During Pakistan’s World Cup match against Sri Lanka, there was speculation of boundary tampering after a catch was taken close to the boundary rope.
On October 10, 2023, Pakistan and Sri Lanka played a Cricket World Cup match in Hyderabad, India. Imam-ul-Haq caught Kusal Mendis just feet from the boundary rope, and discussion of boundary tampering persisted the entire match.
The incident happened in the 29th over of Sri Lanka’s innings, with Mendis on 122 runs. He tried to hit a lofted shot over long-off, but Imam-ul-Haq timed his jump perfectly and took a stunning catch just inches inside the boundary rope.
However, replays showed that the boundary rope had been slightly displaced. There was a patch of grass near the boundary rope that looked discolored, possibly due to boundary rope adjustments.
This led to speculation that the boundary rope had been moved closer to the field of play, in order to make it easier for the Pakistan fielders to take catches.
What is boundary tampering?
The act of moving the boundary rope to your advantage is known as boundary tampering. Boundary tampering also includes moving the boundary rope closer to the playing area and fastening it with things.
Boundary tampering is a significant crime that carries a variety of sanctions, such as point deductions, fines, or suspensions.
Was there boundary tampering in the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka match?
The International Cricket Council (ICC) investigated the incident in the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka match, but they were unable to find any evidence of boundary tampering.
The ICC stated that the patch of discolored grass near the boundary rope was caused by a “maintenance issue.” They also stated that the boundary rope was in the correct position throughout the match.
However, some cricket experts believe that the ICC’s investigation was not thorough enough. They point to the fact that the ICC did not interview Imam-ul-Haq about the incident. Additionally, they note that the ICC withheld any video of the boundary rope being examined during the game.
Conclusion:
The ICC may have concluded that there was no boundary tampering in the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka match, but there is still some doubt about what happened. The ICC’s investigation was not thorough enough, and there are still some unanswered questions.
The violation of boundaries is a serious offense that carries a lot of punishments, as is crucial to know. If the ICC had found evidence of boundary tampering in the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka match, Pakistan could have been penalized with a loss of points, a fine, or a suspension.
However, the ICC did not find any evidence of boundary tampering, so Pakistan were not penalized.