The veteran Pakistan batsman Azhar Ali feels that he will be at the receiving end of the teasing from his 10-year-old son after his bizarre run out in the second Test against Australia on Thursday.
Azhar edged a Peter Siddle delivery towards the third man boundary and, thinking the ball had crossed the rope, halted in the middle of the pitch to talk to fellow batsman Asad Shafiq. But Mitchell Starc picked up the ball almost the yard before the boundary and threw it back to wicketkeeper Tim Paine, who ran Azhar out, leaving the Pakistani duo confused and looking bewildered.
Ali was dismissed after a useful knock of 64, including four boundaries as Pakistan took control of the Test setting a massive 538-run target for Australia with two days left. Australia were 47 for one at the end of the moving day and they are on the verge of facing a 1-0 defeat in the two-match series after the first Test ended in a draw.
WATCH – Azhar Ali involves in a bizarre run-out
Talking about the incident during the post-day press conference, Azhar said, “My son is going to speak about it (the run out) for a long time and in a funny way. Whenever I will say something about cricket he will surely come back to this incident.”
Azhar revealed he was discussing the swing of the ball with Shafiq as they chatted in the middle of the wicket.
He explained, “We were just discussing that the ball was swinging a bit late. When Starc threw the ball even then we didn’t think anything was happening but when it landed in the gloves of the keeper we realized something funny was happening. The way the shot was hit to a fast bowler and the edge flew I thought it reached the boundary. But there is no excuse. Everyone was pulling our legs in the dressing room but at that moment it was a shock.”
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Azhar also acknowledged he and Shafiq did not watch the ball and that was the reason that they missed the whole sight of it. He was thankful that the other batsmen did the job after that and they got to share a laugh about it afterward.
The veteran batsman also denied there was any unsporting behaviour from Australian players in his dismissal. He said, “I don’t think it was bad sportsmanship and I take full responsibility as I feel I was a bit ignorant. It was nothing at all as no one got in my way or distracted me. It was my own doing. I think the Aussies did the right thing.”
