Kushal Mendis was caught by Imam Ul Haq in the 29th over after scoring 122 off 77 balls. However, it appeared that the boundary rope was not in its initial position. During the Pakistan-Sri Lanka match at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on October 10, a significant moment raised questions about the boundary rules and human oversight.
Kusal Mendis sent Hasan Ali’s delivery soaring into the air, where Imam ul Haq positioned himself at the deep midwicket boundary and successfully took the catch. However, video replays disclosed that the boundary rope had been shifted slightly farther from its initial spot. Had it been correctly positioned, Mendis’ shot would have resulted in a six instead of a catch.
Watch here:
Kusal Mendis’s catch is taken by Imam on the boundary, where the boundary rope was moved a bit back.
If it was in its actual position it would’ve been a six!!Who should be responsible for this?? ?@bhogleharsha#CricketTwitter #PAKvsSL #CWC2023
ISIS Hindus Belfast pic.twitter.com/hHiXENKHSD— Ravi Chandel (@RaviChande37910) October 10, 2023
Additionally, in the 37th over of the game, while facing Shaheen Afridi’s second delivery, Dhananjaya de Silva took advantage of a half-volley opportunity, sending the ball over the wide long-off area. However, what appeared to be a straightforward boundary shot became an unforeseen twist, thanks to the unusual placement of the boundary line, which had been shifted from its correct spot.
The ball landed dangerously near the padding, narrowly missing what would have been a clear six if the rope had been where it should have been. Commentators swiftly noted this anomaly, underscoring the mistake that could have changed the outcome of the delivery. A remarkably similar occurrence occurred in Pakistan’s match against the Netherlands when the boundary cushion was discovered to be displaced for a significant portion of the game.
The problem became evident initially during the fifth ball of the 21st over in the second innings, as the boundary cushion was noticeably a few feet behind the designated white line beneath it, which serves as a reference for the hoarding’s original position.
What are the MCC laws regarding the placement of the boundary rope?
As per the MCC’s Boundary Laws, any disturbance to the fixed object delineating the boundary, such as the cushion, requires prompt return to its initial location.
Clause 19.3.2 states, “The object shall be returned to its original position as soon as is practicable; if play is taking place, this shall be as soon as the ball is dead.”
There was a significant risk of controversy in these situations. If a powerful shot had landed beyond the marked white line but within the boundaries of the boundary cushion, it might have raised questions for players, spectators, and officials, leaving them uncertain whether it counted as a four or a six.
In such instances, Clause 19.3.1 would have been applicable, which specifies that “the boundary shall be deemed to be in its original position” if it is disrupted for any reason.
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