Colombo: Diana Baig, a fast bowler from Pakistan, has put an end to the debate regarding Muneeba Ali’s run-out against India in the Women’s World Cup 2025 match at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday. The 29-year-old bowler said that “the whole issue has been resolved” and that there was no need to “talk about it now” after India’s 88-run win.
The run-out was the most important moment in the game, and it happened on the last ball of the fourth over. Third umpire Kerrin Klaaste called Muneeba Ali out after he had only scored 2 runs off 12 balls. The Pakistani bench was clearly angry and confused by this.
The Unusual Order of Events
The firing was based on a complicated reading of cricket laws:
The Delivery: India’s Kranti Goud sent a ball to Muneeba Ali that hit her pads, but the umpire said it was not out.
The Run-Out: Muneeba quickly grounded her bat inside the popping crease after stepping outside her crease. The replays indicated that she did effectively ground her bat, but she picked it up again for a moment just before Deepti Sharma’s throw smashed the stumps.
There was a loud appeal because the graphics were unclear—the bat was grounded and then lifted right away. Captain Fatima Sana was seen having a long, angry debate with Kim Cotton, the fourth umpire, as Ali waited nervously at the boundary line. The Pakistani coaching staff couldn’t believe what they saw and pointed fingers at the umpires in anger. In the end, Ali had to leave the field since the third umpire’s ruling was affirmed.
What the MCC Law Means
Mel Jones, a former Australian cricketer, explained the law that the third umpire used to make his conclusion. She said that Law of Cricket 30.1.2 protects a hitter if their bat lifts after they hit the ground while dashing or diving.
Jones made it clear: “She wasn’t running or diving. So, because of it, there was no sprinting or diving. it’s why she was given out. The law didn’t protect Ali because she was just coming back to her ground and not moving forward, like running or diving, when the bat lifted. She was correctly called out.
The issue is “Settled”
Even though there were complaints at first, it looks like the management of the Pakistani squad has accepted the umpire’s decision after looking over the rules.
When a reporter asked her about the controversial firing and the captain’s worries, Diana Baig answered directly, putting an end to the matter:
“I think Muneeba’s run-out problem has already been fixed. I don’t want to say anything about it right now. I believe that everything that happened and the way things were have been fixed.
The most exciting part of the game was the fight on the field. India triumphed by 88 runs, making it their 12th straight ODI win against their rivals.