Abdur Rehman out of Pakistan Attack in Asia Cup After Bizarre 0-0-8-0 Figures

Pakistan left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman recorded bizarre figures of 0-0-8-0 after bowling three straight full tosses in the Asia Cup. As a result he found himself removed from the attack without having bowled a legitimate delivery against Bangladesh.

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Abdul Rehman bowled three deliveries. None of them were legitimate. And he can't bowl again. #AsiaCup #PakvBan pic.twitter.com/Ex9h9OxGJD

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) March 4, 2014"

Rehman, 34, came on as first-change bowler as Pakistan looked to break the opening Bangladesh partnership. It was his first game of the Asia Cup, and the rust showed as he bowled one beamer after another. 

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Abdur Rehman gets an ODI after after 2 months. And he returns figures of 0 overs. 0 maidens. 8 runs. 0 wickets. 0-0-8-0. #Bizarre

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 4, 2014"

But after three balls he was barred from bowling again, in line with the rules of the game. 

In fact, as ESPNCricinfo explained, only one full toss is ordinarily permitted in ODI cricket but umpire Johan Cloete had attempted to show some leniency before the third ball came out the same way.

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The MCC's Laws make a distinction between dangerous and unfair bowling from a fast bowler and a spinner, with regard to full tosses. While fast bowlers are not permitted to bowl full tosses above waist height, the law is more lenient for a spinner, because of the less dangerous pace, and only deliveries above the shoulder are deemed dangerous and unfair.

[...] The ICC's playing conditions for ODIs, however, supersede the MCC's Laws for international cricket and according to them fast bowlers and spinners are treated the same.

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Fawad Alam completed the over in Rehman's place.

There was no suggestion that Rehman had bowled intentionally poorly. The spinner has 95 Test wickets at just under 28 runs apiece, and England fans will remember him for the way he tormented their team on the 2012 tour in the United Arab Emirates.

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Seems that everything Pak cricketers do is seen as "suspicious" by some.Ridiculous to suggest Rehman bowled those 3 deliveries intentionally

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) March 4, 2014"

If Pakistan go on to win the match, they will contest the final of the Asia Cup against Sri Lanka on Saturday.