In a disappointing turn of events during the 2023 World Cup clash between the Netherlands and Afghanistan, Mohammed Kaif has pointed out the crucial role of poor judgment in the four run-outs that plagued the Dutch side.
The Netherlands, having lost four of their top five batters to run-outs, found themselves bundled out for a below-par total of 179 in Lucknow on Friday, November 3. Hashmatullah Shahidi and his team swiftly chased down the target with seven wickets and 18.3 overs to spare, keeping their hopes alive for a spot in the semi-finals.
During a discussion on Star Sports, Kaif emphasized that the failure of well-set Netherlands batters to exercise sound judgment was the primary cause of their run-outs.
“God has given you two eyes. Use them wisely. If you notice both wickets, there was no chance for a run. The batters were ready, but they ran based on others’ calls. They should have said no in both situations—Ackermann and Engelbrecht,” Kaif said.
Kaif further highlighted that both set batters got out while attempting non-existent singles, emphasizing the need for better decision-making.
“Consider Rashid Khan’s position, he stood at 20 yards, and there was no chance for a run. The ball reached him swiftly. Ackermann, a well-set batter, was in good form. If a settled batter gets run out, it creates challenges,” he added.
In the specific instances discussed, Ackermann and Engelbrecht ran on calls that led to their dismissals. Engelbrecht called for a risky single, putting Ackermann, a set batter, in a situation that led to his run-out at the striker’s end. Similarly, Engelbrecht suffered a similar fate when he did not turn down Roelof van der Merwe’s call after the spin-bowling all-rounder had hit the ball straight to Mohammad Nabi at midwicket