Australia captain Steve Smith made a sportive gesture on the field during his team’s high-stakes Champions Trophy group B clash against Afghanistan at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Friday.
With Afghanistan forging a late lower-order comeback to move up towards a respectable total after opting to bat first, wicket-keeper Josh Inglis had the opportunity to appeal for the ninth wicket at the end of the 47th over bowled by seamer Nathan Ellis. With half-centurion Azmatullah Omarzai slapping a slower delivery to the mid-wicket fielder to retain a single, his partner Noor Ahmad was quick to leave the crease at the striker’s end in the assumption that the over had to come to a close.
However, wicket-keeper Inglis had already gathered the ball and flicked the bails as Ahmad began to drift out from the batting crease for a change of ends after the over. While Inglis and Australia could have appealed for a re-look from the umpires for a potential run-out incident, Australia skipper Smith immediately intervened to waive off the appeal from his team’s side.
The incident, however, quickly drew parallels to the 2023 Ashes incident where Australia Test wicket-keeper Alex Carey’s nimble glovework and presence of mind had England batter Jonny Bairstow involved in a bizarre stumping incident. Chasing 371 in the second Test at Lord’s, England had entered stumps on day 4 at 114 for four.
Batting on the final day, Bairstow was the sixth wicket to fall when Carey’s timely action proved to be decisive for Australia in an eventual 43-run win. Bairstow was stumped by wicket-keeper Alex Carey as he walked out from the crease after a short delivery from Cameron Green.
The dismissal also sparked widespread criticism from English fans. A Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) member was handed a life ban and two MCC members were suspended in the aftermath of clashes with the Australian side.