Controversy Surrounds Australian Batter’s Dismissal in 3rd T20 Against Pakistan

Australia all-rounder Cooper Connolly was incorrectly given out stumped in the third T20I against Pakistan, as the dismissal did not comply with current ICC playing conditions.

Chasing 208, Connolly came in with Australia struggling at 82 for 6. He faced just two balls before falling to Mohammad Nawaz, Pakistan’s fifth wicket of the match. Connolly charged down the pitch but missed the delivery, which turned sharply down the leg side. Pakistan wicketkeeper Khawaja Nafay completed the stumping while Connolly was out of his crease, reducing Australia to 82 for 7. The team was eventually bowled out for 96, losing by 111 runs, marking their heaviest defeat in T20 international cricket.

Television replays revealed that Nafay broke the stumps with his left hand while holding the ball in his right hand, a detail missed by the on-field officials. According to Clause 29.2.1 of the ICC Men’s T20 playing conditions, a wicket is considered fairly broken only if the fielder holds the ball in the same hand used to remove the bails or uproot the stumps. Since this condition was not met, the stumping was invalid and Connolly should not have been dismissed.

The controversial decision came during a series where Australia struggled against Pakistan’s spinners, losing 3–0 just a week before the T20 World Cup. They suffered two of their three largest defeats in T20I history during the tour. Australia now has a single warm-up match against the Netherlands in Colombo on February 5 before facing Ireland in their T20 World Cup opener on February 11. Pakistan will play a warm-up game against Ireland on February 4 and begin their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on February 7.