Fans cry foul as Shan Masood's wicket raises eyebrows in Australia versus Pakistan Sydney Test

During the ongoing third and final Test between Australia and Pakistan in Sydney, an intriguing incident unfolded involving Mitchell Marsh's dismissal of the Pakistan skipper, Shan Masood. In the 26th over, Marsh had Masood caught, only for the umpire to signal a no-ball due to the all-rounder overstepping.

However, the plot thickened in the 30th over when Marsh managed to claim Masood's wicket again, this time with Steve Smith taking the catch at second slip. Yet, observant fans online noticed a potential error in the no-ball check process for the dismissal, raising eyebrows at what seemed like the Pakistan skipper being in two places simultaneously.

The scrutiny intensified when replays surfaced from an earlier incident where Masood survived an edge into the slip cordon. During a review, it was evident that the Australia all-rounder had crossed the line, prompting a no-ball call. This time, Mohammad Rizwan stood at the non-striker's end in the background. As fate would have it, Masood fell once more to an edge off Marsh as he offered a simple catch to Steve Smith. Joel Wilson, the TV umpire, initiated a check to ensure Marsh hadn't overstepped for the second time. 

A side-on-angle replay showed that the 32-year-old's foot was safely behind the line during the delivery stride. However, sharp-eyed fans dissecting the replays noticed a discrepancy. The footage Wilson reviewed to verify his delivery stride for the dismissal displayed a different scenario than the one to which Masood was dismissed. While Rizwan appeared in the shot for the no-ball check, Masood was featured in the background during the dismissal delivery footage.

Pakistan bundled out for 313 on Day 1 in Sydney

This anomaly suggested that Pakistan skipper Shan Masood seemingly existed on both ends of the crease simultaneously. This meant that he was facing the ball and was also positioned at the non-striker's end in the same frame. Consequently, it raised questions about the accuracy of the replay used to assess Marsh's front foot on the delivery that led to Masood's dismissal. The outcome of this scrutiny bore significance as Pakistan were eventually bundled out for 313 on Day 1, in Sydney. Meanwhile, Australia concluded the day's play at six for no loss, leaving the match delicately poised for further action and potential clarifications regarding the contentious dismissal incident.