Cape Town - With Zimbabwe needing just three runs to win in the final over of their ICC Under-19 World Cup group stage clash against the West Indies in Chittagong on Tuesday, 17-year-old Keemo Paul decided to take matters into his own hands.
Zimbabwe had just one wicket in hand as Paul ran up to deliver the first ball of the 50th over, only to run-out non-striker Richard Ngarava.
Paul never had any intention of bowling the ball, and the successful "Mankad" ensured the West Indies' progression to the quarter-finals of the tournament.
With Ngarava's bat on the line when the bails were dislodged, it was pretty obvious that he was not looking to steal any ground.
But, rules are rules, and the third umpire had no choice but to declare Ngarava "OUT".
That didn't stop the cricketing community from voicing their opinion on social media.
Right or wrong, just a sad way to end a good game especially with so much on the line #winatallcosts????
— Stephen Fleming (@SPFleming7) February 2, 2016
Unbelievable , Not out #U19CWC https://t.co/caofiOStQm
— Darren Lehmann (@darren_lehmann) February 2, 2016
Disgraceful behaviour in the U19CWC. WI's should be embarrassed!!
— Eoin Morgan (@Eoin16) February 2, 2016
I cant support what just happened in the #U19CWC @ICC perhaps a decision taken without thought... #sportsmanship
— Alviro Petersen (@AlviroPetersen) February 2, 2016
Can't believe what I've just seen! Embarrassing! #CWCU19
— Jos Buttler (@josbuttler) February 2, 2016
Absolute rubbish to win a game like this , appalling from West Indies !!!! Just not right @ICC
— Jon Kent (@JonKent23) February 2, 2016
Please tell me this is not how the next generation of cricketers are going to play the game!! What a disgrace!!
— paul harris (@paulharris12) February 2, 2016
Well done?? Not so sure about that https://t.co/a7vEt1s8ga
— Albie Morkel (@albiemorkel) February 2, 2016
I actually cannot get over what I've just seen. This from schoolboys. And their adult coaches let it happen. Embarrassing
— Derek Alberts (@derekalberts1) February 2, 2016
Disgraceful piece of mankad cheating by West Indies U19s -
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 2, 2016
shame on them all.pic.twitter.com/FqRbC0rPUn #U19CWC