'Not His Fault': Fakhar Zaman Blames Himself For Run-Out, Others Feel de Kock Foxed Him

Twitter looks divided over the controversial run-out of Fakhar Zaman, just seven runs shy of his double-hundred. Was De Kock right in foxing Fakhar like that?

Image Courtesy: AFP

South Africa vs Pakistan 2^nd ODI was a close contest because of just one man: Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman. Had Pakistan been able to cross the line and win the match, it would have been a ‘one of its kind’ victory. While chasing 342 runs, Fakhar Zaman scored 193 runs for Pakistan; at the same time, the second highest run-scorer for Pak was Captain Babar Azam with 31 runs against his name. It was Fakhar Zaman who was fighting a lone battle against the South Africa bowlers.

Zaman took the match very close. There were 31 required of the last over and a win for Pakistan was looking highly improbable but Zaman was just seven runs shy of his double century and could have easily reached that feat. But he was denied his double-hundred by an uncanny and cunning Quinton de Kock. When Zaman was coming back for a second run in the last over, de Kock was standing behind the stumps at the strikers end and indicated that the ball was going towards the non-strikers end to confuse the batsman. Zaman got confused and was eventually run out for a brilliant 193.

Here is the look at the controversial run-out:

Many from the cricketing fraternity stated Marylebone Cricket Club’s (MCC) Law of Cricket, 41.5.1 that states: “it is unfair for any fielder to willfully to attempt, by word or action, to distract, deceive or obstruct, either batsman after the striker has received the ball”.

However, Fakhar Zaman denied these allegations by fans and said that it was not Quinton De Kock's fault. Fakhar Zaman said that he was to blame for the run-out as he was unaware about where the ball is coming to. "The fault was mine as I was too busy looking out for Haris Rauf at the other end as I felt he'd started off a little late from his crease, so I thought he was in trouble. The rest is up to the match referee, but I don't think it's Quinton's fault," he said. 

Shoaib Akhtar was direct in calling out De Kock for not adhering to the ‘Spirit Of Cricket’. He said, “I wouldn’t call it cheating, but I would not call it in the spirit of the game,” and also stated the MCC’s 41.5 number law.

Even West Indies cricketer Sherfane Rutherford was not hesitant to call De Kock’s act as ‘Cheating’.

Some fans stated ICC's rule number 41.5:

Here’s a look at people who were angry after de Kock’s dismissal:

Some Indian fans were also celebrating Zaman not being able to complete his double-century. Here are some of the hilarious reactions:

South Africa won the match and levelled the three-match ODI series at 1-1. Now we await the last and deciding 3^rd ODI. Tell us in comments about where do you stand on this entire debate of whether Quinton de Kock was right, or was he wrong?