On the third day of the second Test between Pakistan and Australia, being played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the middle-order Pakistan batsman Azhar Ali was involved in one of the most bizarre run outs ever seen in the history of cricket. As soon as the run out was completed by the Australian wicketkeeper and captain Tim Paine, fans and former cricketers took to Twitter to reveal their shock.
The incident occurred in the 52nd over of Pakistan’s second innings when Azhar Ali edge a Peter Siddle delivery to third-man. Azhar Ali and his partner Asad Shafiq were seen chatting in the middle of the pitch, without realising that the ball hadn’t reached the boundary.
Mitchell Starc chased the ball and threw it to Paine, who quickly whipped off the bails, much to the shock of the Pakistani batsmen, and after several reviews the third umpire ruled that it was indeed Azhar who was the one run out.
Here are some of the Twitter reactions from former cricketers and fans:
Without question the greatest Run out of all time !!!! https://t.co/PDGpXMAtkb
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) October 18, 2018
Oh dear. Pakistan's batsmen assume the ball has gone to the boundary at third man, Starc fires back a return after it stops a few inches from the rope, and Paine whips off the bails with Azhar Ali conversing with Asad Shafiq in mid-pitch. Bizarre #PakvAus
— Daniel Brettig 🏏 (@danbrettig) October 18, 2018
Best Test dismissal ever. #PAKvAUS
— André Leslie (@andreleslie) October 18, 2018
“We’ll get Marnus and Azhar Ali to star in a movie – Dumb and Dumber.”
Gold from AB!!! @FoxCricket
— Neroli Meadows (@Neroli_Meadows) October 18, 2018
That is the craziest dismissal I have ever seen! #PAKvAUS @FoxCricket
— Gus Worland (@GusWorland) October 18, 2018
You always wonder if you’ll see an even more bizarre dismissal in your lifetime. That might too the list. “Total stupidity” says AB. #PAKvAUS
— Ben Waterworth (@bjwaterworth) October 18, 2018
What was that?! #PAKvAUS
— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) October 18, 2018
A glove punch for a four nicked through slips would’ve been bad enough by itself https://t.co/hU55ZOukBH
— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) October 18, 2018
Only difference, Azhar Ali didn't throw his toys out of the crib 😊 https://t.co/bG6sOcm8qX
— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) October 18, 2018
Gold!!! https://t.co/aNOuf7YwgT
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) October 18, 2018
Marnus labuschagne must be feeling much better after Azhar Ali’s Run Out #Unbelievable #AUSvsPAK
— Muhammad Wasim (@MuhammadWasim77) October 18, 2018
Just a careless act by the batsmen and that costed them the wicket. #PakvAus https://t.co/ku7ntUGXKO
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) October 18, 2018
Mickey Arthur's reaction to the Azhar Ali run out #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/nGkCp6rRiY
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) October 18, 2018
What did I just watch. Azar ali!!! what is he doing. Could be huge in the context of the match. Big gift. Come on Aus.
— John Hastings (@johnhastings194) October 18, 2018
The list of insanely ridiculous run outs of Pakistani batsmen is long but Azhar Ali has just turned in an all time top five entry.
— Ahmer Naqvi (@karachikhatmal) October 18, 2018
The rules of cricket do not apply???#AzharAli pic.twitter.com/Maq1ezbuM2
— MangoBaaz (@mangobaaz) October 18, 2018
Brainfade for Azhar Ali 😂
— Divyanshu (@MSDivyanshu) October 18, 2018
log dosrun ko ullu bnaty hain, @AzharAli_ ny khud ko ullu bna dia,
wad— AhMed SaEed LoSar (@LosarHeRe) October 18, 2018
"Dumbest Run-Out of the Year award" goes to Azhar Ali 😂 #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/XhlXtR7UcO
— Hit wicket (@KetanPatil77) October 18, 2018
Aise Besharmo Ki Tarah Runout Kaun Hota Hai Yaar 😂😬😂 #PAKvAUS #AUSvsPAK #AUSvPAK
Aur Inhe #Kashmir Chahiye 😂😬😂 https://t.co/U4vzFu6drT
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) October 18, 2018