HAMZA SHAIKH was given out for an ultra-rare dismissal during the U19 World Cup.

The star was batting at No.4 for England as they looked to set a big total for Zimbabwe to chase down.

After a decent start to the innings Shaikh came to the wicket in with the score 70/2.

However, he was only in for nine balls after he was given out for breaking a very rare rule.

Shaikh swung at a ball but failed to get a meaningful connection as it settled between his legs on the wicket.

The batter picked up a stationary ball and threw it to Zimbabwean wicketkeeper Ryan Kamwemba to save him the hassle of getting it himself.

Kamwemba then appealed for Shaikh to be out for obstructing the field, to which the umpire agreed.

The laws of cricket do say that a player can be given out for obstructing the field “without the consent of a fielder” if they use “the bat of any part of their person” to give the ball back.

Retired England fast bowler Steve Harmison slammed the decision as he said “the game’s gone” on commentary.

And fans on social media all agreed as one posted: “That’s a horrific decision deary me.”

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS

Another commented: “That’s not cricket.”

A third wrote: “What a ridiculously poor decision this is. I felt Zimbabwe appealed as a joke and then realised that it may be given out! Poor all round.”

It is one of nine ways a batter can be dismissed there are only eight instances in which it has happened in Men’s One Day Internationals.

The most recent example was Sri Lanka star Danushka Gunathilaka being given out against the West Indies in March 2021.

England hero Ben Stokes has also fallen victim to the dismissal as he was given out for obstructing the field against Australia in 2015.

It would appear that there are only 23 recorded dismissals of this type since 1951 in all formats including Women’s ODIs.

England recovered after the shock wicket to score 237/7 from their 50 overs.

They then dismissed the Zimbabwe team for just 91 to seal a 146-run win.

However, the match was a dead rubber as both sides had already been eliminated from the semi-final stage after losses to West Indies and Australia.

England reached the final of the 2022 competition but lost to India.