he first of a two-match series between Pakistan and New Zealand is taking place in Karachi. While the home team had a strong showing with the bat, scoring 436 runs, the Kiwis responded with a strong reply thanks to openers Tom Latham (113) and Devon Conway (92) who put together a 183-run stand for the first wicket. However, confusion erupted on Day 3’s first hour when Mohammad Rizwan, a substitute player, took the field in place of Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam before play was supposed to resume.
Moreover, Rizwan was also seen setting the fielding placements as he assumed leadership responsibilities because he was the vice-captain in the previous series. There was one problem, however – according to the rules set by the Marylebone Cricket Club (24.1.2 law), “A substitute shall not bowl or act as captain but may act as wicket-keeper only with the consent of the umpires.”
When Pakistan decided to review Conway, there was a funny confusion. Left-arm spinner Abrar Ahmed caught the New Zealand opener leg before, and when umpire Aleem Dar declared not-out, Sarfaraz and Rizwan approached Abrar to talk. Rizwan and Sarfaraz, incidentally, both made the motion for the review.