London, October 7(HS): The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has confirmed that the on-field umpire’s decision to give Pakistan batter Muneeba Ali run out in the Women’s World Cup 2025 clash against India was entirely in accordance with the Laws of Cricket.The incident occurred in the fourth over of Pakistan’s innings when India’s Deepti Sharma, moments after an unsuccessful LBW appeal, threw the ball onto the stumps.

Muneeba, standing outside her crease, was adjudged run out.Questions were raised over whether the ball was “dead” immediately after the LBW appeal and whether a batter could be dismissed run out without attempting a run.

In an official statement, the MCC clarified: “There are several Laws to consider here. Firstly, and most simply, the mere lodging of an appeal does not render the ball dead. The LBW appeal was ruled ‘Not Out’, the ball was not stationary in the wicketkeeper’s possession, and Deepti Sharma’s actions clearly indicated that the players did not consider the ball dead. Therefore, the ball remained in play.”

The MCC further explained that Law 30.1.2 did not apply in this situation, since Muneeba was neither running nor stepping towards her crease. She had taken guard from outside the crease and never returned her foot within the popping crease before the dismissal.

Importantly, MCC emphasized that the dismissal was rightly categorized as a run out and not a stumping, given that the stumps were broken by a throw from a fielder — Deepti Sharma — instead of the wicketkeeper.

With this clarification, MCC has firmly underlined that Muneeba Ali’s dismissal was fully valid and executed within the spirit and letter of the Laws of Cricket.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar