On Day 3 of the ongoing Sydney Test between Pakistan and Australia, young Pakistani player Saim Ayub experienced an awkward fall while chasing a ball hit by Steve Smith. Ayub made a diving attempt to catch the ball, but he ended up jamming his knee on the turf, resulting in a tumble. Fortunately, Ayub escaped without any injuries.
Fans on social media pointed out the contrast in reactions compared to a similar incident during the ODI World Cup in Dharamshala.
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Some users highlighted the criticism that followed the previous incident, suggesting that there should have been a five-run penalty for Pakistan as Ayub stopped the ball with his cap.
A nasty moment in the SCG outfield!
Thankfully Saim Ayub is ok to continue #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/rRAC6rAqer
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 5, 2024
“When this happened in Dharamshala there was a huge criticism”, one user wrote. One fan claimed that this should have been a five-run penalty for Pakistan as Ayub ended up stopping the ball with his cap. He said, “Why was this not a 5-run penalty? Ball hit his hat?”
Rare scene in Australian grounds
— Fouz Khan AI (@Fouzkhan25) January 5, 2024
Why was this not a 5 run penalty? Ball hit his hat?
— Jeremy Cowin (@jez149) January 5, 2024
When this happened in dharamshala there was a huge criticism
— tenali raman (@tenaliraman007) January 5, 2024
So much talk about the outfields of India during the WC.
Seems to be a problem in Australia also eh? 😂— Kamalesh Devi (@KamaleshDevi) January 5, 2024
Ball was caught in the cap! Penalty runs given?
— Srini (@ThinkSrinii) January 5, 2024
While some fans questioned why this incident did not result in a penalty, others noted that such scenes are rare on Australian cricket pitches. Despite the humorous comments, it’s essential to recognize that the players’ safety is paramount, and in this case, Ayub fortunately avoided any harm.
As the three-match Test series between Pakistan and Australia approaches its conclusion, the Aussies have already secured victory in the series by winning the first two matches in Perth and Melbourne.
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David Warner’s outstanding performance in Perth and Pat Cummins’ ten-wicket haul in Melbourne played crucial roles in Australia’s consecutive wins. The ongoing Test in Sydney witnessed a resilient performance from Pakistan, recovering from a batting collapse to reach 313-all out. However, they faced another collapse, finishing Day 3 at 68/7 with an overall lead of 82 runs.
