Ravichandran Ashwin, the experienced off-spinner from India, was taken aback by Mohammad Rizwan’s bizarre run-out in the opening match of the Asia Cup.
The early wickets of Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq fell with only 25 runs on the board in the first match of the Asia Cup, it was up to skipper Babar and Rizwan to steer the team back on course. Rizwan, the wicketkeeper-batsman, was nearing his half-century when an unusual run-out abruptly ended his innings.
During the 24th over, on the fourth delivery, Rizwan attempted a swift single by nudging the ball towards the covers. Unexpectedly, Dipendra Singh Airee, fielding at covers, swiftly collected the ball and threw it directly at the stumps. What unfolded next was quite bewildering: Rizwan’s bat and both his feet were off the ground as he tried to avoid the ball, resulting in his dismissal.
This incident left fans and even India’s spinner Ashwin in astonishment. Ashwin took to his social media to share his perspective on the peculiar run-out, suggesting that the decision to not wear a helmet might have contributed to Rizwan’s unfortunate dismissal.
“The height of the throw made it harder to evade for Rizwan but for someone who generally dives to make his ground all the time while running between the wickets, this is a rare instance of him ducking for cover and the only reason is that he isn’t wearing his helmet. He loves sweeping against spin and no helmet makes it even more bizarre. #PAKvsNEP,” Ashwin shared on his ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) handle.
Meanwhile, skipper Babar Azam completely excelled himself, creating an incredible performance of 151 runs from 131 balls — the second-highest individual score ever recorded in Asia Cup history. Not to be outdone, the Pakistani team clinched the second-largest victory in terms of runs in Asia Cup’s ODI format, a close second behind India’s astounding 256-run triumph over Hong Kong back in 2008.
Looking ahead, the Pakistan side is gearing up for an exciting match against their arch-rivals, India, due to take place at the scenic Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on September 2nd. A winning victory against the Indian team will not only be a feather in their cap but also secure Pakistan’s stable footing in the Super Four stage of the ACC event.
