An interesting passage of play transpired in the ILT20, when MI Emirates keeper Nicholas Pooran opted out of stumping Desert Vipers’ Max Holden, only for the opposition to retire him out immediately after.
MI Emirates were taking on Desert Vipers in the ninth game of the 2025/26 ILT20 at Abu Dhabi. Batting first, the Vipers struggled to get any momentum in their innings, with 39 runs coming in the first five overs. Opener Andries Gous then retired hurt, which brought Holden to the crease alongside Fakhar Zaman.
Holden was unable to increase the run rate either: he was batting on 19 off 17 at one stage, and could only score 23 off his next 20 deliveries, with the help of three fours. The Vipers were 117-1 in 15.5 overs, with Sam Curran batting on 11 off 13 at the other end.
Pooran does not stump Max Holden; he gets retired out immediately
On the last ball of the 16th over, Rashid Khan sent down a short, wide delivery. Holden attempted to skip down the track, but was beaten. Pooran collected the ball and had the opportunity to stump him out, but opted against it, presumably seeing Holden’s struggles at the crease. The ball was called wide, and Rashid had to bowl another delivery in the over. It was a dot ball.
As the over ended, Holden was seen taking off his gloves and walking back to the pavilion, as the Vipers decided to retire him out, when he was on 42 off 37. The incident did not please Rashid, who was robbed of a wicket with Pooran not enforcing the stumping for essentially no reward.
“Not sure what Pooran was thinking,” said commentator Darren Ganga on air.
Shimron Hetmyer walked out to bat thereafter, bringing some sort of life into the innings, with a nine-ball 15, while Dan Lawrence struck 15 in eight, as the Vipers finished on 159-4. Rashid went wicketless in the innings.
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