India’s veteran all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin does not hold back when it comes to supporting bowlers who run out the non-striker at the bowling end with the non-striker backing up far. The Tamil Nadu-based spinner once ran out Jos Buttler in the same manner during an Indian Premier League game and was not disappointed with his actions.

During the second ODI between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Mankad incident sparked a debate. 11 runs were needed off the final over, and  Afghanistan seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi ran out Shadab Khan at the non-striker’s end when the batter went out of his crease before the bowler delivered the ball. Despite all the drama, Naseem Shah ensured Pakistan’s victory by a wicket.

After the game, players from both sides were tensed with Pakistan skipper Babar Azam also looking upset and was spotted having a long chat with senior Afghanistan cricketer Mohammad Nabi. Pakistan pacer  Shaheen Shah Afridi did not even shake hands with his Afghan counterparts. Witnessing this, veteran India’s all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin stated that the batters standing at the nonstriker end must be careful and stay inside the crease. Ashwin also talked about what will happen if Kohli, Rohit, Smith, and Joe Root get “mankaded” in an important World Cup game.

“Imagine someone running out Kohli, Rohit, Smith, Root or any crucial batter at the nonstrikers in the World Cup semi-final or a crunch game which will decide qualification. I am sure hell will break loose and there will be a character assassination campaign by some experts who still don’t agree with it and of course fans that are on the receiving end,” he wrote on X (Twitter).

This is a fair assessment of the situation 👏👏.

Imagine someone running out kohli, Rohit , Smith , Root or any crucial batter at the non strikers in the World Cup semi final or a crunch game which will decide qualification.

I am sure hell will break loose and there will be a… https://t.co/IvzoQt5eAB

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) August 27, 2023

“There is only one solution, whoever be the batter and whatever be the magnitude of the situation, the batter needs to watch the bowler load the ball up and rotate his shoulder before taking off and if he doesn’t do that and gets out, we should applaud the bowler and tell the batsmen that he can do better,” he said.

As per the latest rules and regulations, running out the nonstriker backing up too far has been added as run-out. Earlier, such dismissals were referred  in the section on ‘Unfair Play.’