Controversial Boundary Call Favors Pakistan’s Salman Agha in Test Match Against England

Pakistan batted for nearly two full days in their first Test match against England held in Multan, amassing an impressive first-innings total of 556 runs. The innings featured three players reaching centuries, with the last being Salman Agha, who remained unbeaten on 104 runs off 119 balls. Agha’s commanding performance included 10 fours and three sixes.

One of Agha’s sixes, hit early in his innings, led to a controversial moment that nearly resulted in his dismissal. Off the second ball of the 117th over, Agha targeted a six down the ground. Chris Woakes, the English fielder, appeared to take the catch at the boundary. However, due to being off balance, Woakes threw the ball in the air as his momentum carried him over the boundary and then reclaimed the catch after hopping back into the field.

The on-field umpires referred the decision to the third umpire, who reviewed the play from multiple angles. It was ultimately determined that Woakes’ foot had touched the ground outside the boundary during his second attempt to catch the ball. Consequently, Agha, who was at that point batting on 15 runs off 18 balls, was awarded six runs, thus taking his score to 21 off 19 balls. Agha continued to bat until the end of the 149th over when England’s Joe Root dismissed Abrar Ahmed.

Adding to England’s challenges, their opener Ben Duckett sustained a finger injury while taking the catch that led to the fall of the final wicket. This injury forced England’s stand-in captain Ollie Pope to open the batting in place of Duckett, resulting in Pope’s early dismissal for a two-ball duck at the hands of Naseem Shah.

In a post-match statement, Salman Agha expressed his initial belief that he was out, “I did think it was out initially; I was walking towards the dressing room. The umpire said that he saw that his foot was on the boundary. I don’t really know, I haven’t seen it again. I initially thought I was out,” said the 30-year-old cricketer.

England’s cricket challenges continue as they navigate the rest of the match with a player short, while Pakistan seeks to capitalize on their advantageous position.