Hall of Shame: Pakistan's history of run out shockers
Sadly for Pakistan, Azhar Ali’s comical run out might not be the worst in their cricket history.
Azhar’s glittering knock came to an unceremonious end on Thursday as Pakistan marched towards a crushing victory in the series-decider.
In bizarre scenes early on day three, Azhar convened mid-pitch with Asad Shafiq after an edge to Peter Siddle which flew past gully towards the boundary.
But the ball stopped short of the rope and Mitchell Starc retrieved the ball to wicketkeeper Tim Paine, who removed the bails with an oblivious Azhar stranded well short of his crease.
Many thought the comical brain fade was the worst in Test cricket history, but it might not even be the worst in Pakistan’s history.
Check out these other shockers:
Mohammad Amir v West Indies, November 2016 (Sharjah)
In what was a fascinating third Test, there was a moment of madness in Pakistan’s second innings.
Pakistan had scored 281 in their first innings before the Windies took a handy 56-run lead. In the second innings, Pakistan were in all sorts of trouble and were staring down the barrel.
Already eight down, Pakistan were trying to get as many as possible in the second innings.
Mohammad Amir tried to clear long-on, where Roston Chase put in a magnificent effort to save the six.
He took an excellent running catch and as he was landing down, he realised he was going to touch the rope and hence, he pushed the ball back into play. Amir assumed that would go for six and had started walking towards his partner, Wahab Riaz.
But when he saw the ball back in play, he realised he could be in trouble and hence, he ran back, but was caught short at the non-striker’s end as Chase fired in a good throw from the deep.
It was a comical run out in the end, as Amir, who was admiring the shot, suddenly found himself short.
Misbah-ul-Haq v India, November 2007 (Delhi)
It was in 2007 that India and Pakistan last faced off in a Test series, and it was an action-packed one.
India took the series 1-0 as they won the first Test before the other two Test matches were drawn.
But the first Test had a very bizarre run out of Misbah-ul-Haq. The Indian bowlers had done a terrific job as they kept the Pakistani batsmen in check.
Barring Misbah, no other batsman went past the 30-run mark. The Mianwali-born batsman had carried the team on the first day, and hoped to add vital runs with the lower order on the second day as well.
However, early on Day two, Misbah went for a quick single as he tapped a Sourav Ganguly delivery towards point.
Dinesh Karthik attacked the ball and had a shy at the non-striker’s end.
Misbah had made it but was ball watching. As the throw came in, he jumped with his bat in the air which resulted in the ball hitting the stumps. Misbah, on 82, was run out in one of the most unusual ways as he tried to evade the throw.
BONUS: Alastair Cook v India, December 2012 (Kolkata)
We know he’s not Pakistani, but this list wouldn’t be complete without Cook’s effort from 2012.
The 2012 Test series in India was a memorable one for Cook, both as player and as captain.
England stunned India in the four-match Test series and registered their first Test series win on Indian soil for 28 years.
Cook might’ve made tons and tons of runs in that series but he was run out in one of the most bizarre ways in the third Test.
After keeping India to 316 in the first innings, England were in the box seat at 2-359. Cook had scored his third hundred of the series and was batting on 190.
In the 127th over of the match, Kevin Pietersen whipped one off his pads to square leg where Virat Kohli fielded the ball cleanly.
Cook had backed up a little which prompted Kohli to have a shy at the stumps. As the throw came in, Cook tried to evade the throw and, in the process, moved away without reaching the crease. The ball hit the stumps and Cook was run out.
The then England captain looked distraught after missing out on a well-deserved double ton.
