LAHORE: Opener Maaz Sadaqat won a Player of the Match award in only his second appearance; however, Pakistan’s 128-run victory over Bangladesh in the second ODI was dominated by Salman Ali Agha’s run-out, which triggered a heated spirit of cricket debate.

Maaz clobbered six fours and five sixes in a 46-ball 75 and put on 103 runs for the first wicket in 13 overs with Sahibzada Farhan as Pakistan scored 274 in 47.3 overs after being put into bat. Maaz later turned his arm over as a left-arm spinner and returned figures of 5-0-23-3 as Bangladesh were dismissed for 114 after their target had been revised to 243 in 32 overs due to rain and lightning interruptions.

Apart from Maaz, Haris Rauf – who replaced Abrar Ahmed – picked up three wickets for 26 runs, while Shaheen Shah Afridi bagged two wickets for 22 runs. The other partnership of note in Pakistan’s innings was between Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Rizwan. The two added 109 runs in 115 balls for the fourth wicket. Salman scored 64 from 62 balls with seven fours and two sixes, while Rizwan scored 44 from 59 balls.

After the partnership ended with the controversial run-out of Salman Ali Agha at 231 in the 39th over, Pakistan’s innings wrapped up for 274 – their last seven wickets falling for just 43 runs.

A moment of controversy arrived in the 39th over when Salman Ali Agha was run out by Bangladesh captain and bowler Mehidy Hasan Miraz. After Mohammad Rizwan pushed the ball back down the pitch, Salman found himself briefly positioned between the striker and the bowler as the ball stopped near Mehidy.

Television replays suggested Agha appeared to move toward the ball as if to pick it up and return it to the bowler, but Mehidy reacted quickly, breaking the stumps at the non-striker’s end while Salman was outside his crease. Bangladesh appealed and the decision was referred to the third umpire, who confirmed the dismissal, prompting visible frustration from Salman and sparking discussion among commentators about the Spirit of Cricket.

Bangladesh cricket has previously been involved in several incidents that have triggered similar debates. One of the most widely discussed came during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, when Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan appealed for a timed-out dismissal against Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews. Earlier, during the 2018 Nidahas Trophy, Bangladesh players’ animated celebrations – including Mushfiqur Rahim’s cobra dance – also sparked criticism. In the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2016, Bangladesh dismissed a non-striker for backing up too far, a run-out that reignited the debate around the so-called “Mankad.”

In an unrelated incident, Hussain Talat was stretchered off with a left shoulder injury in the sixth over of Bangladesh’s innings. “Talat received immediate medical attention from the team’s medical staff on the field. Following the initial assessment, he has been taken to a hospital for a detailed examination,” the PCB said in a statement.

Scores in brief:

2nd ODI – Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 128 runs (DLS Method), Mirpur (revised target: 243 in 32 overs)

PAKISTAN 274 all-out, 47.3 overs (Maaz Sadaqat 75, Salman Ali Agha 64, Mohammad Rizwan 44, Sahibzada Farhan 31; Rishad Hossain 3-56, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 2-34)

BANGLADESH 114 all-out, 23.3 overs (Litton Das 43, Towhid Hridoy 28; Maaz Sadaqat 3-23, Haris Rauf 3-26, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-22)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Maaz Sadaqat (Pakistan)

NEXT MATCH: 3rd ODI, Sunday