In the Women's World Cup 2025, the match between India and Pakistan had a big controversy involving Pakistan’s opening player Muneeba Ali. This happened in the fourth over of the game when Muneeba was batting.
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| Image Source: Times Of India |
India had bowled to her with Kranti Gaud, and Muneeba was hit on the pads. India asked the umpire to give her out LBW, but the umpire said no. Then Muneeba moved out of her crease, and a throw from Indian player Deepti Sharma hit the stumps while Muneeba tried to get back.
At first, the third umpire said Muneeba was not out. But after looking at the replay again, the umpire changed the decision and gave her out because her bat was in the air and not grounded inside the crease at the moment the stumps were broken. This confused many people because it looked like she had grounded her bat first before lifting it.
Pakistan’s captain, Fatima Sana, talked to the officials about this decision. Muneeba stayed near the boundary while this was happening. After a long discussion, Muneeba had to leave the field. Pakistan’s pace bowler Diana Baig later said in a press conference that the matter was already settled and she didn’t want to talk more about it.
The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which makes the rules of cricket, explained why the decision was correct. They said a batter is only safe from being out if she is running or diving and loses contact with the ground but has grounded her bat or body before.
But if the batter is just turning or lifting the bat without running, the rules say she can be run out. So, Muneeba’s bat being lifted when the stumps were hit meant she was out according to the law.
This run-out was very important in the match because Pakistan struggled after losing such an early wicket. India won the match by 88 runs.