Controversy erupts as MCC rules Muneeba Ali’s shocking run-out was ‘Entirely Correct’ in Women’s World Cup 2025 clash

In response to the unexpected run-out of Pakistani opener Muneeba Ali during the 2025 Women’s World Cup match against India, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has clarified that the third umpire was “entirely correct” in declaring her out. Muneeba first survived an lbw appeal from Kranti Gaud on the final delivery of the fourth over in Pakistan’s chase at the R Premadasa Stadium. India decided not to review, although replays later showed three reds. However, Muneeba had strayed out of her crease, and Deepti Sharma’s throw hit the stumps. Although Muneeba grounded her bat, it was in the air when the ball struck the stumps.

Even though the on-field call was not out, third umpire Kerrin Klaaste’s second look revealed that Muneeba’s bat was in the air when Deepti’s throw hit the stumps, resulting in her dismissal for just two.

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Pakistan captain Fatima Sana Khan told fourth umpire Kim Cotton that Muneeba had grounded her bat and that the dismissal should be reversed, as she had no intention of running. The ruling led to passionate scenes on the field. In their clarification on Monday, the MCC reaffirmed that Muneeba’s run-out was in line with the Laws of Cricket.

It first touched upon the suggestion that Muneeba could have been protected by Law 30.1.2, which goes as, “a batter shall not be considered to be out of his/her ground if, in running or diving towards his/her ground and beyond, and having grounded some part of his/her person or bat beyond the popping crease, there is subsequent loss of contact between the ground and any part of his/her person or bat, or between the bat and person.”

“This Law means that if you are running or diving towards the end that the stumps are broken, and you ground your bat or person behind the line, you are not out if you then lose contact with the ground and the wicket is subsequently broken. Muneeba had grounded her bat beyond the popping crease after being hit on the pads, and her bat subsequently lifted. Isn’t this exactly what the Law covers?”

“The answer to that is no – the Law specifically only covers a player who is running or diving – and Muneeba was not moving towards her ground. She had taken guard from beyond the popping crease and at no time did her feet move back into her ground.”

“This Law, which was introduced in 2010 and is sometimes referred to as the ‘bouncing bat Law’, is to protect a batter who inadvertently loses contact with the ground as they move towards the stumps, either with their bat bouncing up or just with both their feet being airborne through the natural process of running.”

“It does not protect a batter who is turning for another run, overbalancing, or who – as in Muneeba’s case – simply lifts their bat into the air. The third umpire was entirely correct to give this Out,” said the MCC.

It further said that Muneeba was rightly adjudged as run-out. “It’s a Run out – although she was not attempting a run, and it was not a No ball, the wicket was not broken by the wicket-keeper without the intervention of another fielder – it was instead a fielder who threw it. So the decision, correctly given by the umpires, is Out, Run out.”

India’s next fixture is against South Africa on October 9 at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. They will then face defending champions Australia on October 12 in a high-stakes encounter.