Credit: X
Pakistan cricket team once again became a laughing stock with their batter Abdullah Shafique’s unconventional sliding tackle during the third and final Test against Australia. The Pakistan batter stole the limelight with his dangerous and unexpected sliding tackle on teammate Aamer Jamal. The move left both the players as well as the audience confused and concerned about Jamal.
The incident took place in the 78th over of the first Australian innings when Travis Head played a shot through a backward square leg. The Pakistan cricketers ran to chase the ball and as Jamal approached the ball from fine leg, Shafique, who was positioned at square leg, executed a two-footed football-sliding tackle. It led to Jamal knocking off the field, leaving everyone, including the commentators perplexed. The unusual football-like move on the cricket field reminded fans of footballer Sergio Ramo.
Such a move would have warranted a red card on the football field, but left everyone in splits on the Sydney Cricket Ground. Jamal quickly got up on his feet and remained on the field as the game resumed. The 27-year-old all-rounder pretended to flash a ‘red card’ to his teammate. Aussie cricket great Mark Waugh reacted to what happened on the field and said on Fox Cricket, “What’s going on there? That was ridiculous. Well, they’re 400km from each other. How did this happen? Studs up. He’s sent off. That’s a red card. What on earth? That’s a big red card. No yellow.”
Coming back to the match, the home favourites who were leading the series 2-0, went on to whitewash their guests by clinching the third Test win. The Pat Cummins side won the match by eight wickets.