Litton Das Salman Ali Agha. Image Credits: AFP
Bangladesh batter Litton Das responded strongly to Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha after the latter questioned the “sportsman spirit” following a controversial run-out during the second ODI in Dhaka on Friday, March 13.
Notably, the moment quickly became the biggest talking point of the match. As a result, discussions about the laws of cricket and the “spirit of the game” returned to the spotlight.
Salman Ali Agha run out by Mehidy Hasan Miraz
The incident took place on the fourth delivery of the 39th over while Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz was bowling. During that ball, Mohammad Rizwan drove the delivery straight back down the pitch. Miraz moved forward in his follow-through in order to collect the ball.
At the same time, Salman Ali Agha, who was standing at the non-striker’s end, stepped out of his crease. During the moment, Miraz and Agha brushed past each other near the pitch. Shortly afterward, Agha bent down in an attempt to pick up the ball and return it to the bowler in a friendly gesture.
However, Miraz reacted quickly. He grabbed the ball first and immediately broke the stumps while Agha remained outside his crease. Since Agha had not returned to his ground, the on-field umpires referred the decision to the third umpire for confirmation. After reviewing the footage, the third umpire declared Agha run out.
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The decision ended a strong partnership between Agha and Rizwan, which had already crossed the 100-run mark. As a result, the dismissal sparked immediate debate among players about whether the action followed the spirit of the game.
Salman Ali Agha reacts to the controversial run-out
Following the dismissal, Salman Ali Agha showed clear frustration on the field. He threw his helmet and gloves onto the ground twice, expressing his anger at the decision. Consequently, the ICC took disciplinary action against the Pakistan batter.
Later, Agha explained his perspective on the incident. He acknowledged that the run-out followed the official laws of cricket.
“Well, it is in the laws," Agha said. “I am someone who always wants to follow the law, but when it comes to the sportsman spirit, I think that has to be held higher, no matter the situation. Regarding what he did within the law, if he thinks it is right, that it’s his choice. But if you ask for my perspective, I would have acted differently; I would have gone for the spirit of sportsmanship," he added.
Litton Das hits back at Salman Ali Agha
Meanwhile, Bangladesh batter Litton Das responded firmly to Agha’s comments. Das had already been involved in a heated conversation with the Pakistan batter shortly after the incident on the field.
Later, Litton Das explained that the dismissal followed the rules of cricket, therefore it should be accepted as part of the game.
“First of all, no one came here to play a charity league; this is an international match," he said. “Since the dismissal is within the rules, I don’t see from any angle that sportsmanship was compromised. Everyone is entitled to their own personal opinion. But as players, we felt that an out is an out," Litton Das added.
Meanwhile, the match itself also included several dramatic moments. Play stopped for nearly two hours due to a rain and hailstorm interruption. As a result, officials revised the target under the DLS method. Bangladesh then needed 243 runs in 32 overs.
However, the chase collapsed quickly. Bangladesh were bowled out for 114 runs in just 23.3 overs. Therefore, Pakistan secured a commanding 128-run victory and levelled the series at 1-1. Now, both teams will face each other again on Sunday for the decisive third ODI at the same venue.
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