[WATCH] PAK vs AUS 2026: Khawaja Nafay’s error behind the stumps goes unnoticed in third T20I, sparks controversy

Pakistan wicketkeeper Khwaja Nafay found himself at the centre of controversy after committing a technical error behind the stumps during the third T20I against Australia. The incident occurred when Cooper Connolly walked out to bat with Australia struggling at 82/6, the match already slipping firmly out of their grasp.

Connolly survived only two deliveries before charging down the track against Mohammad Nawaz. He completely missed the ball as it turned sharply down the leg side, and Nafay appeared to complete a straightforward stumping. With Connolly well out of his crease and nowhere near the frame, the dismissal looked routine in real time, and the on-field umpires raised the finger without hesitation. The wicket was Nawaz’s fifth of the innings.

However, replays later revealed a crucial error that went unnoticed during the match. While Nafay did break the stumps, he did so using his left hand, whereas the ball was clearly lodged in his right hand. According to ICC Men’s Playing Conditions, this constitutes an unfair breaking of the wicket, meaning the dismissal should not have stood had the umpires spotted the infringement.

The ICC laws state that a wicket is considered to be broken fairly only if a bail is completely removed from the top of the stumps or a stump is struck out of the ground by a fielder, provided the ball is held in the same hand or hands used to break the wicket, or in the hand of the arm so used. In this case, Nafay was not holding the ball in the hand with which he dislodged the stumps, which should have resulted in the decision being overturned.

Despite the incident, the dismissal stood, and Pakistan went on to complete a dominant 3-0 whitewash over Australia in the T20I series. Interestingly, while Pakistan emerged victorious in all three matches, they also suffered two of their three heaviest defeats in T20I history during the series.

Looking ahead to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Australia will have just one warm-up fixture, facing the Netherlands in Colombo on February 5, before opening their campaign against Ireland on February 11. Pakistan, meanwhile, will play a warm-up match against Ireland on February 4 before beginning their World Cup journey against the Netherlands on February 7.