‘Umpire’s call is final’: Mahmudullah ‘heartbroken’ as Pakistan survive last over fiasco to clean sweep series

‘Umpire’s call is final’: Mahmudullah ‘heartbroken’ as Pakistan survive last over fiasco to clean sweep series

Mahmudullah

Mahmudullah-led Bangladesh’s poor run in the shortest format continues as Pakistan whitewashed the Tigers in their own backyard. The Bangla Tigers are coming off a forgetful Super 12 campaign in the T20 World Cup where they failed to win a single game as they finished last in Group A.

While the hosts went 3-0 in the T20I series, the final game was a thriller with Bangladesh coming inches close to winning the game. It was Mohammad Nawaz’s last-ball four that helped Pakistan chase down 125 in 20 overs. Mahmudullah almost pulled off a one-man heist as he attempted to defend eight runs in the final over.

Mahmudullah’s three-wicket haul couldn’t salvage Bangladesh’s pride

Mahmudullah
Mahmudullah

Skipper Mahmudullah came in to bowl the final over and started with a dot ball before removing Sarfaraz Ahmed and well set Haider Ali in successive deliveries to put the pressure back on Pakistan. Iftikhar Ahmed managed to smash a crucial six off the fourth ball before getting out the very next delivery.

The equation read two off two required when something bizarre took place in the middle. When Mahmudullah released the fifth ball of the over, Pakistan’s Mohammad Nawaz pulled out of his stance at the last moment and the ball went on to hit the stumps. Bangladeshi players were stirred up as the umpire called it a dead ball.

“I just asked the umpire whether it’s a fair ball or not because he (Nawaz) pulled out late. I just asked this to the umpire nothing else,” Mahmudullah said after the game. “Umpire’s call is final and we do respect umpires. It’s a little bit heartbreaking. We went closer but unfortunately, it did not happen.”

Haider top-scored with 45 while Mohammed Rizwan made 40 as Pakistan almost made a mess of what seemed like an easy chase. Mohammad Wasim and Usman Qadir picked up two wickets each for Pakistan while debutant pacer Shahnawaz Dahani and Haris Rauf grabbed one each.

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