**Women’s WC: Was Muneeba Ali’s Controversial Run-Out Against India Legitimate?**
*By Parth Dhall | October 06, 2025 | 11:07 AM*
A controversial run-out involving Pakistan’s Muneeba Ali became a major talking point during the India-Pakistan ICC Women’s World Cup match held at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday. The match saw Pakistan chasing a target of 248 after bowling out India, but ultimately falling short.
### The Incident: What Happened?
The drama unfolded on the last ball of the 44th over. Kranti Gaud delivered a full ball aimed at middle and leg. Muneeba attempted a flick but missed, and the ball deflected off her pads toward the second slip. Despite an on-field LBW appeal being turned down, India’s Deepti Sharma quickly gathered the ball and dislodged the bails at the striker’s end.
The third umpire was called upon to review the dismissal. Although Muneeba had initially grounded her bat inside the crease, she lifted it just as the stumps were broken. Following the review, the third umpire declared Muneeba out, sparking visible disappointment from the Pakistan batter. It’s notable that Muneeba had initially been given not out on the field.
### Review Insights: Would India Have Got the Wicket?
Ball tracking later revealed that had India chosen to review the LBW decision, Muneeba would have been ruled out anyway. This revelation added to the intensity and tension on the field, which was already high due to earlier controversies.
### Earlier Controversy at the Toss
The match’s contentious atmosphere was further fueled by an umpiring error at the toss. Umpire Shandre Fritz misheard Pakistan captain Fatima Sana’s call of “tails” as “heads,” erroneously declaring Pakistan the toss winner. Additionally, no handshakes were exchanged between Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Sana, reflecting strained relations between the teams.
Both sides also skipped formal greetings prior to the national anthems. This rivalry has been notably intense recently, with India and Pakistan facing off three times during last month’s men’s Asia Cup in the UAE—matches also marked by the absence of post-match handshakes amid heightened tensions following a deadly border conflict earlier this year.
### MCC Laws: What Do They Say About Run-Outs?
According to the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Laws of Cricket, Article 30.1 states that a batter is considered out of her ground unless some part of her body or bat is grounded behind the popping crease at that end.
However, Article 30.1.2 clarifies that a batter shall not be considered out of her ground if, in the course of running or diving towards her ground, she has grounded some part of her body or bat beyond the popping crease. In Muneeba’s case, the third umpire’s decision was based on her lifting the bat just as the stumps were broken, leading to her being declared out.
### Match Result: India Triumphs by 88 Runs
Despite the controversy, India secured a convincing victory by 88 runs. Contributions from Harleen Deol (46 off 65 balls) and Richa Ghosh (35 off 20 balls) propelled India to a competitive total of 247 runs on a slow pitch.
Kranti Gaud led the bowling attack, dismantling Pakistan’s top order with figures of 3/20, while spinners effectively contained the middle and lower order. With this win, India extended their flawless head-to-head record against Pakistan in Women’s One Day Internationals (WODIs) to 12-0.
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The match highlighted not only the fierce on-field rivalry but also the off-field tensions between the two cricketing nations, adding an extra layer of intensity to an already high-stakes World Cup encounter.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/legitimate-or-not-debate-over-muneeba-ali-s-dismissal-against-india/story
