Pakistan Cricket has been making the headlines for all the wrong reasons. In a recently concluded home T20I series against Australia, Salman Ali Agha’s men clean-swept the Aussies, winning their first T20 series since 2018. In the third and final T20I on Sunday, something controversial happened. While chasing a target of 208 runs Aussies failed to score even 100 runs and were bundled out for 96 runs.
During the game, Australia’s Cooper Connolly was stumped by Pakistan wicket-keeper Khawaja Nafay off Mohammad Nawaz’s bowling. Though the controversy arose here with the Aussie all-rounder, who should have been given not out, as per the current cricket laws. Connolly went in to bat with Australia struggling 82-6, and the match was almost lost. He lasted only two deliveries, becoming Nawaz’s fifth wicket of the game.
Comedy Of Errors in Pakistan vs Australia
The southpaw stepped out trying to hit for a six, but completely missed the ball as it turned significantly down the leg side, and the keeper Khawaja Nafay collected the ball cleanly, and completed the stumping what looked like a relatively easy stumping.
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However, during replays, it was caught that Nafay, who collected the ball with both hands, actually broke the stumps with his left hand, in which the ball was not present. This incident went completely unnoticed during the match. Even though the umpires failed to spot it, the decision would, in all probability, have been reversed.
What does the ICC rule say about run-outs and stumpings?
As per the ICC rulebook, the wickets are considered broken fairly only if the fielder, or as in this case, the wicketkeeper, is holding the ball in the same hand used to dislodge the bail or uproot the wicket.
Clause 29.2.1 of the ICC men’s T20 playing conditions reads, “The wicket is broken fairly if a bail is completely removed from the top of the stumps or a stump is struck out of the ground – by a fielder with his hand or arm, providing that the ball is held in the hand or hands so used, or in the hand of the arm so used.”
In this case, Nafay was not holding the ball; he used to dislodge the bails. In that case, Connolly would not have been out. This is not the first controversy that happened in this series. Previously, Cameron Green made a ‘chucking gesture’ after getting out of Usman Tariq in the second T20I game. The latter has been under the light as he has been reported by many umpires during the Pakistan Super League 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Here’s the video:
Khawaja Nafay too good 😂😂
How did no one notice? #pakistan #australia #cricket pic.twitter.com/4d2Dj53M1I
— Azeem Rafiq (@AzeemRafiq30) February 2, 2026
Will Pakistan play the T20 World Cup?
After the Men in Green’s dominating win over Australia, the Pakistan government on Sunday finally gave the green light to travel to Sri Lanka to play in the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup.
However, the government also mentioned that they will not be playing against India and will boycott the match, which is scheduled on February 15th. This has led to a new stir in the cricketing world, creating confusion among the fans about whether the best match of the major ICC event will take place or not.
Also Read: Shahid Afridi heartbroken as Pakistan boycott India clash in T20 World Cup 2026
