Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi endured a rough start to his Big Bash League journey for the Brisbane Heat when he was removed from the attack in the midst of his over due to dangerous bowling. Afridi, who was making his debut in the BBL against Melbourne Renegades, had bowled two waist high deliveries which ruled him out of bowling for the rest of the innings.
The incident happened during the 18th over with Afridi first bowling a no ball to Tim Seifert and then bowled another beamer to his strike partner Oliver Peake in the same over. As a result, he was removed from the attack and finished with 43 runs from 2.4 overs bowled without any wicket.
What does the rule say?
According to section 41.7 under MCC laws of cricket, any delivery, which passes or would have passed, without pitching, above waist height of the striker standing upright at the popping crease, is unfair. Whenever such a delivery is bowled, the umpire shall call and signal No ball.
The bowling of a delivery as defined in 41.7.1 is also dangerous if the bowler’s end umpire considers that there is a risk of injury to the striker. In making that judgement the umpire shall:
– disregard any protective equipment worn by the striker be mindful of:
– the speed, height and direction of the delivery the skill of the striker
– the repeated nature of such deliveries.
Wow.
On his BBL debut, Shaheen Afridi has been removed from the attack! #BBL15 pic.twitter.com/IhDLsKFfJi
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 15, 2025
If the umpire considers a non-pitching delivery, or a series of non-pitching deliveries, to be dangerous under 41.7.2, when the ball is dead, the umpire shall repeat the No ball signal to the scorers and then caution the bowler, indicating that this is a first and final warning. The umpire shall also inform the other umpire, the captain of the fielding side and the batters of what has occurred. This caution shall apply to that bowler throughout the innings.
Should there be any further dangerous such delivery by the same bowler in that innings, the umpire shall call and signal No ball when the ball is dead, direct the captain of the fielding side to suspend the bowler immediately from bowling inform the other umpire for the reason for this action. The bowler thus suspended shall not be allowed to bowl again in that innings.
If applicable, the over shall be completed by another bowler, who shall neither have bowled any part of the previous over, nor be allowed to bowl any part of the next over.