WATCH: India A players shocked as Maaz Sadaqat’s catch gets controversially overturned during Asia Cup Rising Stars clash

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Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament match between India A and Pakistan A on November 16 turned controversial during a thrilling fielding moment involving Nehal Wadhera and Naman Dhir, leaving Indian players and fans perplexed. The incident centered around a relay catch of Pakistan’s Maaz Sadaqat, who was batting strongly, and a recent change to cricket’s boundary fielding rules by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).

Sadaqat was dominating the chase with a 31-ball fifty as Pakistan A sought to overhaul India A’s modest total of 137. The wicket seemed certain in the 10th over when Suyash Sharma induced Sadaqat to lift the ball towards the boundary. Nehal Wadhera sprinted after the lofted shot, leaped near the boundary rope, and flicked the ball back into the field.

Naman Dhir then completed what looked like a textbook relay catch inside the boundary. Sadaqat headed towards the boundary, assuming he was dismissed, but the umpires asked him to wait. The third umpire then ruled the catch not out, shocking the Indian team and leaving many questioning the legality of the catch. Captain Jitesh Sharma immediately sought the rule clarification from match officials.​

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Also READ: “Kuch pressure nahi feel hota…”: Vaibhav Suryavanshi after smashing 32-ball century for India A vs UAE in Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025

This controversial overturn was a result of a significant rule change in cricket’s boundary fielding laws introduced by the MCC in June 2025. The amendment to Law 19.5.2 was aimed at clarifying and tightening the conditions under which airborne fielders can touch the ball near the boundary, particularly during relay catches. Under the former rule, only the first fielder’s position when grounding mattered, allowing multiple airborne returns outside the boundary. The updated law now requires any fielder who touches the ball while airborne outside the boundary to land inside the field of play and remain inside until the ball is dead, or else the ball is considered to have crossed the boundary.

In Wadhera and Dhir’s case, Wadhera was airborne beyond the boundary line when he made initial contact with the ball and flicked it back into the field, but then landed outside the boundary again. According to the new Law 19.5.2.1, this rendered the ball as having reached the boundary despite Dhir’s clean catch inside the field. Therefore, the third umpire’s “not out” decision was legally accurate under the updated rules, although it sparked debate over whether Wadhera briefly controlled the ball while still inside the boundary.​

Despite the disappointment for India A, the reprieve proved costly as Maaz Sadaqat capitalized on his stroke of luck to guide Pakistan Shaheens to a comfortable eight-wicket victory. The win secured Pakistan A’s spot in the semi-final, marking a significant achievement that their senior team has struggled to accomplish since 2022. The tense encounter also featured heated exchanges between players and umpires and added to the drama of this rising stars fixture, underscoring the impact of rule changes on modern cricket.​

Also READ: Fans react as Maaz Sadaqat’s all-round performance propels Pakistan A to a dominant win over India A in the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025