Pakistan batsman Azhar Ali has had a colossal brain fade during the second cricket test against Australia, losing his wicket courtesy of a farcical run out.
In bizarre scenes early on day three in Abu Dhabi, Azhar convened mid-pitch with Asad Shafiq after an edge to Peter Siddle which flew past gully and seemed destined for the boundary.
But Azhar didn't see the ball stop short of the rope. Fielder Mitchell Starc retrieved the ball to wicketkeeper Tim Paine, who removed the bails with an oblivious Azhar stranded well short of his crease.
Azhar later admitted his 10-year-old son - the eldest of three - had flown in from the UK where he attends boarding school just in time to witness his father's brain fade.
"They're going to speak about it for years," Azhar said.
"Whenever I say something to them they are going to come back to me about this run out.
"There is no explanation about it. You shouldn't be not watching the ball for long.
"It was one of those things where neither Asad or I had sight of it ... when Tim Painestarted to run towards the stumps then I thought there was a little bit something funny about it."
The run out mattered little in the end as Pakistan declared their innings at 400/9 to set Australia 538 runs for victory.
Australia finished day three on 47/1, requiring a further 491 for victory.
AAP
