A tactical masterclass or a strategy that goes against the spirit of cricket? That is the debate after a bizarre situation occurred in a Women’s Twenty20 World Cup Asian qualifier.
United Arab Emirates batters retired out en masse in an effort to end their match against Qatar quickly with rain threatening to halt play. With only one team progressing from the group, the UAE wanted to close out a win to keep qualification in their own hands.
UAE reached 0-192 in 16 overs with captain Esha Oza making 113 off 55 balls before deciding to finish their innings early to avoid a washout.
Ending an innings by declaration is not allowed in white-ball cricket, so every batter had to pad up and walk to the middle before retiring without facing a ball.
“Whilst the innings was going on we started hearing thunder and slight drizzle started,” UAE coach Ahmed Raza explained about the match held in Bangkok on Friday.
“I went to the umpires and checked whether we could declare but in white-ball cricket you cannot declare. I then asked the match referee if I could retire my whole team out.
Members of the UAE T20 team.
“With the thunder and drizzle we just had to make sure the whole game was played because the weather has been around.
“At the start of our bowling innings it was already drizzling and we were scared of the thunderstorm. There was not enough time. It was all done purely to get a result.”
UAE subsequently bowled out Qatar for 29 in 11.1 overs to secure a crushing 163-run win and remain top of Group B.
The top team from each of the three groups will compete in a final “Super Three” round, with the top two qualifying for next year’s World Cup in England and Wales.
Raza insisted that his decision was not meant to be disrespectful or against the spirit of the game. He said: “By doing this I meant no disrespect to anyone involved, our opposition.
“Everything that happened was within the laws and was well communicated with the match referee.
“This extraordinary series of events should not overshadow our captain’s hundred and our opening stand of 192 and our bowlers doing the remaining job.”
London Telegraph
