WATCH: Azam Khan misses easiest stumping ever to leave teammates baffled, Ireland captain goes on to score 41-ball 73

Pakistan’s fielding is probably their weakest department ahead of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in West Indies and the USA. In the T20I series decider against Ireland, Azam Khan committed a blunder as he missed the easiest of stumpings. Azam had enough time to take off the bails but he made a mess of it and Ireland's stand-in captain Lorcan Tucker got a second chance. 

The incident took place in the eighth over of Ireland's innings. Tucker was batting on 28 off 17 balls. He was stitching a partnership with opener Andrew Balbirnie. Babar Azam introduced leg-spinner Saim Ayub into the attack and it almost paid off. Tucker goes too far down the track. Azam had an easy chance to stump Tucker but he could not collect the ball. 

Also, the batters managed to sneak a single. Everyone on the field was left frustrated as Pakistan missed a chance to get a breakthrough. 

Meanwhile, Pakistan's other wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan was on song. In the 11th over, Balbirnie miscued it towards backward point. Rizwan sprinted and put in a full-length dive to take an excellent catch. Balbirnie was dismissed for a 26-ball 35.The second-wicket partnership was broken. Balbirnie and Tucker put on 85 runs on the board from 49 balls.

Meanwhile Tucker completed his second half-century on the trot from 29 balls. Left-arm spinner Imad Wasim ended his stay at the crease. He went for a lofted drive but was caught at long-off by Ayub. His 41-ball 73 was laced with 13 fours and a six. 

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Pakistan make a comeback after Tucker’s wicket

When Tucker departed, Ireland were 132/3 with 38 balls left in the innings. Pakistan managed to make a comeback after the opener's dismissal. Shaheen Afridi struck twice whereas Mohammad Amir and Abbas Afridi took one wicket each to restrict Ireland for 178/7.

Earlier, Babar won the toss and opted to field first. Shaheen was economical as he conceded 14 runs from his quota of four overs and bagged three wickets. Hasan Ali in his comeback game was expensive as he conceded 42 runs from three overs.

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