Pakistan cricket is making headlines for the wrong reasons. In the recently concluded home T20I series against Australia, Salman Ali Aga’s team whitewashed the Australian team by winning their first T20I series since 2018. In the third and final T20I on Sunday, something controversial happened. While chasing the target of 208 runs, the Australian team could not even score 100 runs and collapsed on 96 runs.
During the game, Australia’s Cooper Connolly was stumped by Pakistan wicketkeeper Khawaja Nafe on the ball of Mohammad Nawaz. However, a controversy arose here regarding the Australian all-rounder, who should have been given not out as per the current cricket rules. Australia were struggling at 82–6 when Connolly came out to bat and almost lost the match. He lasted only two balls and became Nawaz’s fifth wicket of the game.
Comedy of errors in Pakistan vs Australia
The southpaw stepped up to try to hit a six, but missed the ball completely as it turned well down the leg side, and keeper Khawaja Nafe collected the ball cleanly, completing what looked like a relatively easy stumping.
However, during replays it was caught that Nafe, who collected the ball with both hands, actually broke the stump with his left hand, with the ball not present. This incident did not go unnoticed during the match. Even if the umpire had failed to recognize this, there is every possibility that the decision would have been overturned.
What do ICC rules say about run-out and stumping?
According to the ICC rule book, a wicket is considered broken only if the fielder, or in this case, the wicketkeeper, is holding the ball in the same hand that is used to remove the bails or dislodge the wicket.
Clause 29.2.1 of the ICC Men’s T20 Playing Conditions reads, “The wicket is substantially broken if the bail is completely removed from the top of the stump or the stump is thrown out of the ground – by a fielder’s own hand or arm, provided that the ball is in his hand or the hand used, or is in the hand of the hand used.”
In this case, Nafe was not holding the ball; He used to uproot the vines. In that situation, Connolly would not have been out. This is not the first controversy that has happened in this series. Earlier, Cameron Green had made a ‘chucking gesture’ after dismissing Usman Tariq in the second T20 match. The latter has been in the limelight as he has been reported by several umpires during the Pakistan Super League 2024 and 2025 respectively.
Here is the video:
Khwaja Nafe very good
How did no one notice? #Pakistan #Australia #Cricket pic.twitter.com/4d2Dj53M1I
– Azeem Rafiq (@AzeemRafiq30) 2 February 2026
Will Pakistan play T20 World Cup?
Following the Men in Green’s impressive win over Australia, the Pakistan government on Sunday finally gave the green signal for Sri Lanka to travel to play in the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup.
However, the government also informed that they will not play against India and will boycott the match to be held on 15 February. This has created a new stir in the cricket world, leaving fans confused about whether the match will be the best of the ICC’s premier event or not.
Also read: Shahid Afridi heartbroken as Pakistan boycotts India’s match in T20 World Cup 2026
