Explainer: Why was no ball called and Bangladesh asked to replay final delivery?

We take a look at the thrilling final moments of the clash between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and indicate the laws behind what led to the umpires asking the final ball to be bowled again.

Players and spectators alike were left confused as to what happened in the dramatic final stages of Bangladesh’s Super 12 match against Zimbabwe at The Gabba, but a quick look at the MCC Laws of Cricket reveals the umpires made the right call during the dying stages.

To the naked eye it looked like Nurul Hasan had completed a clear stumping of Blessing Muzarabani from the final ball of Musaddek Hossain’s over to seal a thrilling victory for Bangladesh.

But with TV umpire Chris Gaffaney called on to check the stumping, the Kiwi official found Hasan had in fact taken the ball prior to it passing the stumps and whipped off the bails in excitement.

Video T20 World Cup 30 Oct 22 00:58

Every ball of Bangladesh and Zimbabwe playing out an incredible final over | T20WC 2022

The MCC are the custodians of the Laws of Cricket and Rule 39.1.1 states the following in relation to the stumping dismissal:

“The striker is out Stumped, except as in 39.3, if a ball which is delivered is not called No ball and he/she is out of his/her ground, other than as in 39.3.1 and he/she has not attempted a run when his/her wicket is fairly put down by the wicket-keeper without the intervention of another fielder. Note, however Laws 25.6.2 and 25.6.5 (Dismissal and conduct of a batter and his/her runner) and 27.3 (Position of wicket-keeper).”

The key part of that law is the final sentence, which relates to the position of the wicket-keeper and leads us to the next rule that consider what the keeper can and can’t do.

Rule 27.3.1 states the following:

“The wicket-keeper shall remain wholly behind the wicket at the striker’s end from the moment the ball comes into play until a ball delivered by the bowler touches the bat or person of the striker or passes the wicket at the striker’s end or the striker attempts a run.”

Video T20 World Cup 30 Oct 22 05:27

Bangladesh edge Zimbabwe in dramatic thriller | Match Highlights | T20WC 2022

Bangladesh edged out Zimbabwe by a narrow three runs after a dramatic finish to their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 encounter

In this case Hasan was found by Gaffaney to have taken the ball prior to it passing the wicket and that led to a no ball being correctly called by officiating umpire Marais Erasmus as per Rule 27.3.2.

Rule 27.3.2 states the following:

“In the event of the wicket-keeper contravening this Law, the striker’s end umpire shall call and signal No ball as soon as applicable after the delivery of the ball.”

Following the no ball call from Erasmus, players returned to the field with an extra run added to Zimbabwe’s score and four runs required for victory and the batting side given a free hit.

Fortunately for Bangladesh, Musaddek fired in an excellent delivery that Muzarabani was unable to get a hold of as the Asian side got a second chance to celebrate the thrilling victory.

THIS IS THE BIG TIME!

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is coming to Australia from 16 October to 13 November 2022.