On Monday, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) confirmed that Pakistan’s Muneeba Ali was rightly given out during the India vs Pakistan Women’s World Cup 2025 match in Colombo. The incident occurred in the fourth over of Pakistan’s innings when India bowler Deepti Sharma’s delivery hit Muneeba on the pads, and India appealed for an LBW.

The on-field umpire initially said “not out,” but Deepti quickly threw the ball at the stumps while Muneeba was still standing outside her crease with her bat in the air. The third umpire reviewed the play and gave her out, a decision that caused significant debate among fans and players. Some people thought the ball was "dead" following the LBW appeal, which meant that the game had stopped.

The MCC later stated that because the umpire had called "not out" and the ball was still in motion, the ball remained "live", allowing the run out to stand.They also explained that the “bouncing bat law,” which protects batters who accidentally lift their bat while running, did not apply because Muneeba was not running or diving back to her crease. She was merely standing with her bat raised.

MCC Explains Rules Behind Controversial Run-Out

“There are a number of pieces of Law to consider here. The first, and simplest, is that just because there was a vociferous appeal for LBW, the ball had clearly not become Dead. The appeal had been answered Not Out, the ball was not finally settled in the hands of the wicket-keeper, and Deepti’s act alone is a demonstration that not all the players considered it Dead. The ball remains in play,” MCC wrote on its website. “She had taken guard from beyond the popping crease and at no time did her feet move back into her ground.”

 

 

 

 

 

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Pakistan’s players were unhappy with the decision, with captain Fatima Sana discussing it with the fourth umpire. Despite the controversy, India won the match comfortably by 88 runs, highlighted by strong performances from Harleen Deol (46 runs) and Richa Ghosh (35 off 20 balls). Kranti Gaud led the bowling attack, taking three wickets.

Pakistan have had an up-down of a forecast regarding their recent cricketing timeline. Though they have been pleasing in the recent 2024 Women's Asia Cup by reaching the semi-finals, they have failed to convert it into a triumph.

The same applied to their recent performance in the three-match T20 series against South Africa, where they lost 2-1. But, with a young captain and balanced squad, they are eager to win their first Women's T20 World Cup title. That said, here's the Pakistan-announced full squad, their probable XI and their top three players to check out. 

Announced Women's Pakistan 2024 T20 World Cup Full Squad:

Fatima Sana (Captain), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Gull Feroza (Wicketkeeper), Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali (Wicketkeeper), Nashra Sandhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba Hassan.

Pakistan Probable XI:  

• Muneeba Ali (Wicketkeeper)
• Gull Feroza
• Sidra Amin
• Nida Dar
• Aliya Riaz
• Fatima Sana (Captain)
• Sadaf Shamas
• Sadia Iqbal
• Nashra Sundhu
• Diana Baig
• Tuba Hassan

Also Read: 2024 Women's T20 World Cup: Sri Lanka Women's Team squad, Probable XI & Top 3 players to check out

Top 3 players to check out from Sri Lanka in the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup:

Fatima Sana

Fatima Sana will be taking up the shoes of captaincy from the experienced campaigner, Nida Dar, for the upcoming 2024 Women's T20 World Cup. As a medium-pacer, the 22-year-old can be helpful in scalping some pivotal wickets for the side in the middle and final overs of the game and making some runs, where she can change the game for the side.

Seeing a young-blood player lead a side for the vast tournament would be interesting. In her T20I stint, she has scalped 31 wickets and made 316 runs in 43 matches

Nashra Sandhu

Nashra Sandhu is Pakistan's reliable spinner, recognised for her remarkable control. Nashra's ability to keep pressure on rival teams and deceive the batters throughout the middle overs will be critical to Pakistan's bowling plan.

Given the spin-friendly conditions in the UAE, she has the potential to be one of her team's top wicket-takers. In 62 T20I matches, she has taken 60 wickets with an economy rate of 5.46. 

Muneeba Ali

Muneeba Ali is anticipated to play a crucial role in Pakistan's campaign. She has had glimpses of brilliance in her ability to dominate the powerplay, generating critical starts for her team. Muneeba's aggressive style in the first few overs may offer Pakistan an advantage in setting competitive totals.

Muneeba's ability to establish a strong foundation on the powerplay significantly impacts the team's success. In 73 T20I appearances, she has scored 1261 runs at an average of more than 20, demonstrating her ability to alter the game with the willow.

Following useful contributions during the previous week at the women’s T20 World Cup, Richa Ghosh has moved up to rank fifth among Indian batters in the top 20 of the ICC T20I rankings for women. That is Ghosh’s career-high in the batter’s circle, where she is joined by Amelia Kerr and Muneeba Ali, both of whom have also posted career-high numbers.

Ghosh finished the week 20th despite a first-ball duck against Ireland, scoring 44 not out in 32 balls in the win over West Indies and 47 not out in 34 balls in the loss to England

No. Smriti Mandhana 3, Shafali Verma 10, Jemimah Rodrigues 12, and Harmanpreet Kaur, captain (No. The remaining Indians in the top 20 are (13).

In the meantime, Kerr, who is also ranked 13th in the world for T20I bowling, scored a match-winning 66 against Sri Lanka to rise to No. Her highest ranking to date is 16 on the batters’ list. She has also moved to No. 3, a one-spot increase among T20I all-rounders.

Renuka Singh, another of Ghosh’s India teammates who made significant moves, went 5 for 15 against England, a career high. As a result, he moved up seven places to fifth among bowlers.

Muneeba became the first Pakistani batswoman to score a century in a women’s Twenty20 International match when she struck 102 off 68 deliveries on February 15 against Ireland. That moved her up ten places to 64th, her highest position ever.

Meg Lanning has moved up one spot to fourth place among batters after scoring 48 runs without being out against Bangladesh, and Suzie Bates has moved up two spots to No. 6 following her respective scores of 56 and 81 not out against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Tazmin Brits, who have risen six spots to No. 21), Amy Jones, who rose from 26th to 26th, Orla Prendergast, who rose from 38th to 38th, and Harshitha Samarawickrama, who rose from No. 39) moved up the other batters.

Lea Tahuhu moved up to seventh place on the bowlers’ table after taking eight wickets in four games, including a three-for against Australia. She also reached 700 rating points for the first time in her career.

Darcie Brown, who is still only 19 years old, has also made her debut at No. 10 in the rankings. 8; Hayley Matthews, who went 2 for 14 against Pakistan, has moved up to tenth place.

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Ashleigh Gardner remained the No. 1 all-rounder. 1; however, Deepti Sharma has moved up to fourth, Matthews and Kerr have moved up, and Nida Dar has moved up two spots to fifth.