Agha on the runout controversy: I would have gone for sportsman's spirit

The second one-day game between Pakistan and Bangladesh reopened the debate of laws vs sportsman's spirit. It happened after Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz ran out Pakistan all-rounder Salman Ali Agha in an unusual way. Salman, in the post-match conference, said he would have ‘done things differently’, though he does not think Mehidy was wrong in doing what he did.

How the controversial run-out happened

The controversy erupted when Mohammad Rizwan nudged a Mehidy Hasan Miraz delivery, with Salman at the non-striker’s end, outside the crease. Trying to make it to the crease, he was halted by the Bangladesh captain’s attempt to pick up the ball, which Salman seemingly thought marked the end of the delivery, hence bending down to get the ball for Mehidy.

However, Mehidy struck the stumps and sent a fuming Salman back to the hut.

"I think sportsman spirit has to be there," Agha said. "What he [Mehidy] has done is in the law. I think if he thinks it's right, it's right, but if you ask me my perspective, I would have done it differently. I would have gone for sportsman's spirit. We haven't done this [type of thing] previously, we would never do that in the future as well."

“Actually, the ball hit on my pad and then my bat," he said. "So I thought he can't get me run out now, because the ball had already hit my pad and my bat.

"I was just trying to give him the ball back. I was not looking for the run or anything like that, but he already decided [to make the run-out]."

Agha regrets his on-field reaction

Salman, however, rued the way he behaved following the dismissal. The spin all-rounder angrily threw his gloves and helmet on the ground and got into a heated exchange of words with Bangladesh wicketkeeper Litton Das when signalled out.

"It was just heat-of-the-moment kind of stuff," he said. "If you ask me what would I have done, I would have done things differently. But it was everything, whatever happened after that, it was in the moment."

"I can't remember what I was saying and I can't remember what he was saying," he said. "I'm sure I wasn't saying nice things, and I'm sure he wasn't saying nice stuff as well. But it was just a heat-of-the-moment thing, so we are fine.

When asked if he has made peace with the Bangladesh captain yet, Salman said he will do so as soon as he gets hold of him.

"I haven't yet, but don't worry, I'll find him."

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