Pakistan wicketkeeper Khawaja Nafay enjoyed a stroke of luck after taking action following an apparent oversight by the umpire during the third T20I against Australia on Sunday, February 1.
In the 14th over of Australia’s chase, Mohammad Nawaz dismissed Cooper Connolly after the batter danced down the track. Nawaz smartly cuts his length and makes the ball spin back. Connolly failed to make contact as the delivery drifted down the leg side, allowing Nafay to collect the ball cleanly and clear the bails with plenty of time. Connolly tried to get back into his crease but was short enough.
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However, controversy soon followed. Television footage showed Nafay holding the ball in his right hand while releasing bails with his left. This raised questions about whether the knock was done legally and whether the on-field umpires had missed that the bails had been removed by the hand that was not holding the ball.
Pakistan just invented a new law for wicketkeeping
Pak goalkeeper Khawaja Nafay held the ball in his right hand and tripped with his left hand. Absolute jokerspic.twitter.com/fC2QYks16y— Suprvirat (@Mostlykohli) February 2, 2026
WHAT DOES THE ICC LAW SAY?
In ICC terms of the game, a wicket is considered to be completely broken only when the fielder or wicketkeeper pulls down the bails or uproots the stumps with the ball held in the same hand.
Article 29.2.1 of the ICC Men’s T20 Laws of the Game states: “A wicket is fairly broken if the bail is completely removed from the top of the stumps or the stump is knocked off the ground – by the fielder’s hands or arms, provided the ball is held by the hand or hands so used or in the hand of the arm so used.”
Nafay had a decent performance with the bat, scoring 21 off 12 deliveries, including one four and two sixes. His brisk cameos gave Pakistan a late boost and helped them post a commanding 207 for six.
The hosts then produced a dominant bowling performance as they bundled Australia out for 96 in 16.5 overs to seal a massive 111-run victory and complete the series 3–0.
– The end
Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
February 2, 2026