"ICC needs to change the rule" - Irfan Pathan raises major concern about bizarre regulation after AUS vs IND 2025 4th T20I

Former cricketer Irfan Pathan has highlighted a rule that he believes the ICC needs to change following the fourth T20I between India and Australia in Queensland on Thursday. Pathan opined that the ball should be kept in play when the batter is considering taking a review to allow him a run in case the decision is in the batter's favor.

In the 14th over of the first innings, bowled by Marcus Stoinis, the umpire adjudged Shubman Gill out LBW, as the right-hander looked to flick the ball. Although the Indian vice-captain opted for the review straight away and the decision turned in his favour, the ball was called a dot.

Speaking about the incident in the latest video on his YouTube channel 'Irfan Pathan,' the former all-rounder explained (6:43):

"If you appeal and the umpire gives it out and a batter takes a review and if it goes outside leg stump, it’s not out. The ball takes the pad and goes away but you miss that run and you have to come back on strike because a review is taken."

"The same thing happened with Shubman Gill, that run was missed. It was a clear inside-edge, umpire gave it out but it was given as a dot ball. But the game needs to keep moving in that case. If you feel the need to take the review after the umpire’s decision, you keep that decision in LBW calls," he added.

The 41-year-old highlighted that a missed run can make a difference in a World Cup final.

"You keep the game on and the run won’t be missed. Otherwise, every team will miss the run," Pathan continued. "Just imagine, it’s a World Cup final and you lose by a run and this could be that run. ICC needs to change this rule. It will be a problem if it’s not changed. Game needs to keep moving and the ball must be in play until the decision is out. Even if the batter needs to take the review, take it after the run is complete."

Australia, meanwhile, lost the match. Chasing 168 on a tricky surface, the hosts fell 48 runs short. Washington Sundar was India's pick of the bowlers with three scalps, while Axar Patel and Shivam Dube snared a couple.

"They know how to come back" - Irfan Pathan on Team India

Team India have taken a 2-1 lead in the series. (Credits: BCCI X)

Speaking of the match result in the same video, Pathan felt the tourists did what they needed to do with the bat on a tricky surface and was impressed by how they performed with the ball. Pathan elaborated:

"The Indian team is like if you doubt them even a bit, they will crush it and move forward. It was a fantastic victory at the Gold Coast. It was not a big score to chase down, India hadn’t crossed the 200-run mark. The score that the conditions demanded they attained it. When Australia’s bowlers were bowling, there was assistance."

"They batted well on that tricky surface, whether it was Shubman Gill, Axar Patel’s good finish, the 20 odd runs scored by Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube or in the bowling. If we talk about Arshdeep Singh, Washington Sundar and Jasprit Bumrah is special already. Varun Chakravarthy as well," he said.

"The way they bowled. This team waits. If you doubt us even a bit, we will come back strongly. They know how to come back. With this win, India won’t lose the series. We hope they win in Brisbane and claim the series. My prediction was 4-1 in India’s favour but it rained in Canberra," he concluded.

India will hope to win the series at the Gabba in the fifth and final T20I on Saturday.