The long-standing rivalry between India and Pakistan took an unexpected turn on February 15, 2026, during the 6th Match of Group A at the Women’s Rising Stars Asia Cup in Bangkok. While India A secured an eight-wicket win, the match is now remembered for a controversial incident involving Pakistan’s wicketkeeper Yusra Amir and India’s standout player Vrinda Dinesh.
Controversial move by Pakistan’s wicketkeeper leads to cheating allegations
The incident unfolded during a crucial over bowled by Pakistan’s Gull Rukh. Vrinda was playing a defensive shot when the ball unexpectedly spun back towards the stumps. To protect her wicket, she attempted to gently nudge the ball away with her bat, a move allowed in Cricket.
However, Yusra Amir moved forward to block Vrinda’s bat with her gloves, which many deemed unfair. A heated argument broke out, prompting umpires to intervene. Video replays showed that Amir’s gloves did indeed make contact with Vrinda’s bat before she could clear the ball. After a quick discussion, the officials ruled in favor of Vrinda, declaring her Not Out.
This incident raised questions about the MCC Laws of Cricket. According to Law 37.2, a batter is protected from an “obstructing the field” charge if she is making a legal second strike to defend her wicket. On the other hand, Amir’s actions came under scrutiny of Law 41.5.1, which considers it unfair for a fielder to deliberately distract or obstruct a batter during play. By interfering with Vrinda’s right to protect her stumps, Amir crossed the line of fair play.
Here’s the video:
