Mehidy ignites ‘sportsman spirit’ row after controversial run-out

2026-03-14 - 12:24

Pakistan batter Salman Ali Agha said Mehidy Hasan Miraz should had shown the “sportsman spirit” after the Bangladesh captain ​ended his innings with a controversial run-out in Friday’s ‌One-Day International in Dhaka. Short of his crease at the non-striker’s end, Agha bent down to pick up the ball to return it ​to the bowler after his teammate Mohammad Rizwan had ​driven it towards him. However, Mehidy circled around behind ⁠Agha to collect the ball and threw down the stumps. The ​dismissal immediately revived discussions about the “spirit of cricket” and had ​echoes of the 2023 Ashes controversy when Australia’s Alex Carey stumped England’s Jonny Bairstow at Lord’s. “I think sportsman spirit has to be there,” ​Agha told reporters after Pakistan’s 128-run win. “What he has ​done is in the law. I think if he thinks it’s right, ‌it’s ⁠right, but if you ask me my perspective, I would have done differently. “I would have gone for sportsman spirit.” Agha reacted angrily in the moment, throwing down his gloves and helmet, ​but later downplayed ​his outburst. “I ⁠was just trying to give him the ball back. I was not looking for the ​run or anything like that, but he already ​decided. “If ⁠you ask me what would I have done, I would have done things differently. But ... whatever happened after that, it was ⁠in ​the moment.” Pakistan and Bangladesh will play ​the third ODI on Sunday, with the three-match series level at 1-1.