PAK vs NZ: Instances of unexpected blunders and disorganized management are not uncommon in professional sports, but in the case of Pakistan, these events appear to occur more frequently. Once again, the country found itself in the spotlight on Saturday as the ground staff incorrectly marked the 30-yard circle, drawing attention to the issue.
Umpires halt the match for a while
Pakistan initiated the first ODI against New Zealand in Rawalpindi by winning the toss and electing to field first. Both teams opted to play a second-string XI due to workload management and the absence of key players involved in the Indian Premier League. The opening over of the day/night match featured a face-off between Will Young and Pakistan’s Naseem Shah.
The 20-year-old bowler displayed discipline, conceding only four runs, courtesy of an excellent straight drive from Young. The strike then shifted to Chad Bowes, who faced debutant pacer Ihsanullah Khan in the following over. However, just as the much-anticipated clash was about to commence, there was a slight delay due to amusing reasons.
The on-field officials, Aleem Dar and Rashid Riaz, who were from the host nation, noticed an unusual discrepancy with the field just as Ihsanullah was about to begin his run-up. They observed that the white circular markers, which are used to indicate the 30-yard circle, were positioned farther back than the standard placement. Their suspicions were confirmed upon inspection. As a result, chaos ensued as off-field officials and groundsmen entered the field to remeasure the 30-yard distance and correctly position the markers. The players had to wait while this flaw in the fundamental field setup was rectified.
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