Watch: England U-19 player given out 'obstructing the field' against Zimbabwe

England batter Hamza Shaikh was given out for ‘obstructing the field’ against Zimbabwe in the ICC U-19 World Cup in South Africa. The incident occured in the 17th over of the contest, Shaikh defended a ball and it remained down by by his feet. Zimbabwe wicketkeeper Ryan Kamwemba started to step forward from behind the stumps to collect it. Then, with the ball stationary, Shaikh bent down to pick it up and passed it back to the fielders – which is a practice employed by many batters.

However, in this case, Kamwemba and the bowler, Ryan Simbi, started to appeal and it was sent to the third umpire Nigel Duguid by on-field officials Donovan Koch and Masudur Rahman. After a careful look, Duguid gave it out.

Previously it would have been construed as handling the ball, but that mode of dismissal was combined with obstructing the field in 2017 with MCC saying they were effectively the same thing.

Wow… ☹️ https://t.co/gEb7UBSnDy

— Sam Billings (@sambillings) February 3, 2024

The relevant Law, 37.4, reads: “Either batter is out Obstructing the field if, at any time while the ball is in play and, without the consent of a fielder, he/she uses the bat or any part of his/her person to return the ball to any fielder”.

On the dismissal, which in no way looked to be an obstruction of the field or impeding the fielding team, drew criticism. “Oh get a grip,” Stuart Broad posted on X. “He’s passing a stationary ball back to the fielder? Doing him a favour! Cant give that out.”

Oh get a grip. He’s passing a stationary ball back to the fielder? Doing him a favour! Cant give that out https://t.co/0iVQXKNw6d

— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) February 3, 2024

Sam Billings retweeted a video of the dismissal, simply adding: “Wow.”

Late last year Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim was given out for obstructing the field in a Test against New Zealand when he punched a delivery away after defending it down into the crease.