Ball not dead, bails knocked off - Why was Mohammad Rizwan not out hit-wicket?

[Ball Blazer]

The action-packed third day at Rawalpindi culminated in a peculiar and controversial moment that overshadowed South Africa’s otherwise commanding performance. After facing the final ball of the day, Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan, without apparent concern, tapped the base of his stumps with his bat, knocking off the bails. South Africa instantly appealed for hit wicket, recognizing that the ball was still in play—the umpire hadn't yet called the day over, nor had the ball been returned. Batters sometimes remove the bails at stumps, but they almost always wait until the ball is officially dead. This deviation from the conventional protocol fueled South Africa's hope for a wicket. Yet, both umpires quickly smiled and rejected the appeal, leaving the South African team baffled as to the reasoning for the 'not out' verdict.

The Laws of the game, though, appear to side with Rizwan, and the umpires' judgment. Law 35.1 states that a batter can only be deemed out hit wicket after the bowler has entered their delivery stride

• in the course of any action taken by them in preparing to receive or in receiving a delivery
• in setting off for the first run immediately after playing or playing at the ball
• if no attempt is made to play the ball, in setting off for the first run
• in lawfully making a second or further stroke for the purpose of guarding their wicket

None of those criteria were met by Rizwan's actions, and it remains unclear how committed South Africa were to the appeal. In the moments after, it appeared South Africa did not seem especially aggrieved anyway, with allrounder Senuran Muthusamy downplaying the incident at his press conference, saying he was fielding too far away and was unaware of what happened.



South Africa finished the day with strong hopes of levelling the series, with Pakistan leading by 23 runs at stumps with six wickets in hand.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Ball was probably dead when he did that.

 

[Rana]

He was saved by the umpire there,

If they had sent it upstairs, I’m not sure he would have got away with that.

 

[Rana]

Ball was probably dead when he did that.

It wasn’t in the keeper’s hands.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I think the umpire had already said 'end of play', but I don't understand the need for these kind of stupid antics.

 

[RidiculousMan]

The ball was dead

 

[Rana]

The ball was dead

Saikat called end of play with the ball in short cover’s hand, not the keeper’s.

 

[Rana]

I think the umpire had already said 'end of play', but I don't understand the need for these kind of stupid antics.

As you know I keep a very close eye on Rizwan’s general behaviour

I’ve realised the guy just has a weird fetish of hitting/breaking stumps for the sake of it. He just loves it

Weird weird guy.

 

[mominsaigol]

As you know I keep a very close eye on Rizwan’s general behaviour

I’ve realised the guy just has a weird fetish of hitting/breaking stumps for the sake of it. He just loves it

Weird weird guy.

Finished watching highlights and other clips. I now understand why you obsessively hate him.

Dont get me wrong, I don't like rizzu either, but im starting to understand your viewpoint even more.

The dude is weird.

 

[Ball Blazer]

Poll added guyss.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Saikat called end of play with the ball in short cover’s hand, not the keeper’s.

Saikat's the man. Whenever he says its dead. It's dead.

 

[Rana]

Saikat's the man. Whenever he says its dead. It's dead.

So Rizwan thought it was smart to just hit the stumps with his bat?

 

[RidiculousMan]

So Rizwan thought it was smart to just hit the stumps with his bat?

Rizwan likes to mess around with people. Some get it. Others get triggered. Either way he's not stupid so he knows at the end of the day he's not breaking any rules and if anyone's getting annoyed by it then so be it.

 

[Human786]

If SAF had reviwed the appeal by keeper , 3rd umpire would have had no option but to give it out .

 

[Rana]

If SAF had reviwed the appeal by keeper , 3rd umpire would have had no option but to give it out .

SF did want to appeal it, it was the umpire who insisted on not sending it upstairs

 

[Sachin fan]

Ball was probably dead when he did that.

It's umpires discretion in such cases and he was lucky the umpire chose to overlook it. Anyways, it's not the batsman place to remove the bails at any point.

 

[Sachin fan]

Rizwan likes to mess around with people. Some get it. Others get triggered. Either way he's not stupid so he knows at the end of the day he's not breaking any rules and if anyone's getting annoyed by it then so be it.

He 100% broke rules of dead ball and he was very lucky the umpire didn't take it further. If the keeper had missed the ball, the batsman would have run overthrows. The ball wasn't dead.

 

[Sachin fan]

Saikat's the man. Whenever he says its dead. It's dead.

And Saikat could very well have deemed the ball not dead. Rizwan was being stupid and got lucky.

 

[Sachin fan]

As you know I keep a very close eye on Rizwan’s general behaviour

I’ve realised the guy just has a weird fetish of hitting/breaking stumps for the sake of it. He just loves it

Weird weird guy.

He is like a 10 year old who needs constant attention and will do stupid antics to get them. I have a 8 year old daughter who sometimes acts up when she feels neglected, though not as often as Rizwan.

 

[Savak]

Rizwan needs to grow up and quit with these antics. He has cost Pakistan many times with his irresponsible shots at the most crucial times in games.

 

[Major]

Had the umpire called the game before that?

If Umpire had called the game, than it was not out, if Umpire hadn't called it than it was out

By calling game, i meant the umpire saying end of play.

When end of play is called, players usually knock the bails off

 

[DeadlyVenom]

It was not out but looked very childish.

 

[gazza619]

This is the very reason why kudrat always supports a SA choke. These guys along with the Aussies do not understand the concept of the spirit of the game

 

[aarizzler720]

He is like a 10 year old who needs constant attention and will do stupid antics to get them. I have a 8 year old daughter who sometimes acts up when she feels neglected, though not as often as Rizwan.

He was saved by the umpire there,

If they had sent it upstairs, I’m not sure he would have got away with that.

deserves the bairstow treatment

 

[Sachin fan]

This is the very reason why kudrat always supports a SA choke. These guys along with the Aussies do not understand the concept of the spirit of the game

SA has been doing much better lately in all formats than Pak. Is that also kudrat doing it?

A grown man doing child like antics for attention is in the "spirit of the game"?

 

[mominsaigol]

He is like a 10 year old who needs constant attention and will do stupid antics to get them. I have a 8 year old daughter who sometimes acts up when she feels neglected, though not as often as Rizwan.

Rizzu is 33 . That's the funny part. He's not even Gen Z lol. His behaviour is funny beyond belief.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Riz should not have done that but giving him out would have been the funniest outs ever... I think the game was already called off by umpires so all is well here.

 

[sithb]

a 33 year old , someone who's a senior member of the team , doing the needless stuff. Should have given him out..

 

[mominsaigol]

SF did want to appeal it, it was the umpire who insisted on not sending it upstairs

I'd be fine with his nonsense if he actually scored today. But I knew this bottle job would mess up under pressure.

I believe i said something similar in the first Test as well.

He contributes extremely well when someone else like saud, Shan or agha are on 50-70. He tends to take the score from 250 to 320 which is fair.

Hes a clown when onus is on him to do any sort of heavy lifting. Expect a painful 8-20 of 60+ deliveries and a lbw or a top edge into the air.

Mental midget of a batsmen. Signs were their since asia cup 2022 final.

 

[Human786]

SF did want to appeal it, it was the umpire who insisted on not sending it upstairs

The keeper appeaedl , had skipper backed it & REVIEWED , the duffer would have been declared out .

 

[Rana]

The keeper appeaedl , had skipper backed it & REVIEWED , the duffer would have been declared out .

Exactly, the whole point of the review is that the umpires are unsure or they have got an onfield decision wrong.

So even if the umpire did call “dead” or “end of play” in this situation….the 3rd umpire upon review can determine if the call was correct given the motion of play in which it was called upon. Also the question of “the player removing the bails” or “the player breaking the stumps” also comes into this. It’s the umpire’s duty to break the stumps to declare end of days play.

It’s a pointless debate now but what it does prove is that Rizwan is an idiot.

 

[Bewal Express]

A stupid thing to do.