Cricket is highly regarded as a ‘Gentleman’s Game’, and cricketers play the game with utmost professionalism. However, sometimes fans get to witness hilarious incidents taking place on-field, which never fails to tickle the funny bones of everyone.
One such incident occurred in an encounter between the Punjab Lions Nicosia and the PAK I Care Badalona sides in the ongoing European Cricket League (ECL). The rib-tickling episode took place where the non-striker ran more than halfway down the pitch before even the ball was delivered.
It all happened during the 10th over of Punjab Lions’ innings when the bowler was about to deliver the ball before the non-striker ran in full speed towards the striker’s end. The bowler stopped his run-up and pulled out of the delivery. Although he did not whip the bails, but he did speak to the umpire regarding the incident.
Here is the video:
Incredible backing-up from this lad 😂🏃♂️@EuropeanCricket pic.twitter.com/4mbICTxbc5
— That’s So Village (@ThatsSoVillage) March 13, 2022
Notably, running the non-striker out has always been debated highly among the cricket fraternity. Also known as Mankading, in such a situation, a bowler has all the rights to whip the bails if the batter tries to gain a few extra yards by coming out of his crease even before the bowler delivers the ball.
The act of doing ‘Mankad’ was considered against the ‘spirit of cricket’, however, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has recently amended the rules. Now, if a bowler dismisses the non-striker in this fashion, it will no longer be considered as an unfair play but will be called a runout.
“Law 41.16-running out the non-striker- has been moved from Law 41 (Unfair Play) to Law 38 (Runout). The wording of the Law remains the same,” read the statement released by the MCC.
