‌WATCH | Ambigious loophole in MCC law denies Shan Masood’s hit wicket dismissal

Yorkshire Vikings were all set to square off against the table-toppers, Lancashire Lightning in Rosses showdown on June 20. Winning the toss in the North group high-octane encounter, the ‘White Rosses’ lost a couple of early wickets in Adam Lyth and Dawid Malan before Joe Root and Shan Masood stabilised the stage with a 104-run third wicket stand. This helped Yorkshire stockpile 173 runs on board and ultimately went on to pepper the opposition by seven runs. However, a controversial decision on Masood’s hit wicket stole the spotlight among fans and sparked fresh debates on MCC laws. 

The first ball of the 15th over saw Jack Blatherwick dish a bumper outside the stumps that well-set Masood on 58* tried to shuffle across the line and ramp. However, the ball came off the thickish outside edge and skewed onto his helmet grill before ricocheting towards short third man. Surprised by the sudden thud and in search of where the ball went, Masood took a step back, unawarely knocking the bails, before strolling to sneak a run. Joe Root at the non-striker’s end was quick to cross over and a perplexed Masood was an easy prey for the fielder who ran him out at the non-striker’s end. Subsequently, drama unfolded at the field with Masood, the on-field umpire, and the Lancashire players at the center of the field in Headingley. Eventually, the umpire decided to favour the Pakistani batter in terms of Law 31.7 of MCC.

Law 31.7 states about “Batter leaving the wicket under a misapprehension”

“An umpire shall intervene if satisfied that a batter, not having been given out, has left the wicket under a misapprehension of being out.  The umpire intervening shall call and signal Dead ball to prevent any further action by the fielding side and shall recall the batter.”

The Lightning could have earned a big breakthrough but the loophole in the law denied the dismissal, leaving the Twitterverse in debate.