Pak, Ireland pay the penalty for running on pitch

This is an area we should look at, because it has not happened the first time, it (happened) in the Sri Lanka series as well. JAVERIA KHAN, Pakistan captain

MUMBAI: Players had crucial lessons to take when both the matches in the ongoing ICC Women’s World T20 on Sunday — India versus Pakistan and Ireland versus Australia — witnessed teams being penalised for their batsmen running in the ‘danger area’.

Pakistan were docked a fiverun penalty twice against India, while Ireland were handed a five-run penalty against the Southern Stars in the second game of the day.

India thus began their chase at 10/0 without a ball being bowled, and they sauntered to a seven-wicket win over Pakistan who had their players Nida Dar and Bismah Maroof being guilty of running on the pitch.

Both Nida (52) and Bismah (53) gave Pakistan’s faltering batting some momentum, but they were warned first in the 13th over as the ICC’S ‘Playing Conditions’ call for a first and final warning. The rule says the erroneous side can be penalised five runs after the first warning.

The first five-run penalty on Pakistan was imposed on the first ball of the 18th over, while the second came on the final ball of the same over.

The rule is important as the Providence Stadium in Guyana is hosting 11 matches over nine days of the tournament.

Pakistan captain Javeria Khan admitted her team was warned thrice. “I had a chat with the umpires and they told me that they warned the player thrice, and after warning three times, imposed the penalty,” she said.

“It was unprofessional on our part that after being warned, we were still (running) on the danger area. This is an area we should look at, because it has not happened the first time, it (happened) in the past in the Sri Lanka series as well. We should seriously look into this because these are the things that cost you the game,” Javeria added.

Nida said it was a ‘silly mistake’ on their part. “It was a silly mistake. We should learn from this. Maybe if the 10 runs hadn’t been deducted, maybe it would have been a good game.”

Mithali Raj admitted that India were warned as well. “We were told before getting into bat that the 10 runs [would be added]. The Pakistan batters were warned, and so were we, but we didn’t get to that point [of a penalty].”

Ireland were docked five runs for their offence, and Kim Garth said: “It’s something we’re going to have to learn from. Against sides like Australia we absolutely cannot afford a penalty. Rules are rules, we broke them, so we have to learn from it,” Kim said.

Australia’s senior player Ellyse Perry said this was a new experience for her. “I have never played in a tournament where this has been a key issue, it seems to be in the first couple of matches and that’s completely fine, that’s within the rules of cricket,” Ellyse said.