On This Day in 2002, Shoaib Malik was first player given LBW by third umpire

Cricket’s new “LBW by DRS” rule was first implemented as an experiment on September 12, 2002. According to the rule, the third umpire may confer with the on-field umpire regarding any part of a decision that they are uncertain about. Notably, the hawk-eye technology was unveiled in 1996, and the television umpire was initially employed during India’s 1991–1992 tour to South Africa.

The Champions Trophy match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was the first to implement the LBW awarded by the DRS rule.

A youthful Shoaib Malik took the bat in the fourth over after Waqar Younis chose to bat. Malik was hit with a straight ball that Chaminda Vaas bowled.

Match umpire Daryl Harper cited television umpire Rudi Koertzen in response to the Sri Lankans’ appeal. As the TV umpire rendered his decision, Shoaib Malik made history by being the first person to fall victim to the third umpire.

Watch the video below:

For the first time #ONTHISDAY 12-09-2002, 3rd Umpire was called on to give an LBW decision as part of an experiment that ICC did in the 2002 Champions Trophy.
Umpire go for Drs to check his decision.
Batsman was @realshoaibmalik.
Bowler was @chaminda_vaas. pic.twitter.com/r37b0Y56qd

— Zohaib (Cricket King) (@Zohaib1981) September 12, 2024

Pakistan was defeated by Sri Lanka.

Concerning the match, Pakistan did not score much when they batted first. Saeed Anwar and Shahid Afridi opened the innings with 52 and 4 runs, respectively, for the team. After just one run, Shoaib Malik was sent off, and Mohammad Yousuf was out on a duck.

Additionally, the team steadied their innings by taking a few middle-order wickets. With Misbah-ul-Haq contributing 47 runs, Younis Khan and Rashid Latif scored 35 and 22 runs, respectively, as Pakistan amassed 200 runs in the opening innings.

With a combined total of three wickets, Dilhara Fernando and Muttiah Muralidaran led Sri Lanka in wicket-taking. With one wicket taken by Chaminda Vaas, Pulasthi Gunaratne claimed two.

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With the intention of pursuing the objective, Sri Lanka easily defeated Pakistan. Sanath Jayasuriya and Aravinda de Silva opened the batting, respectively scoring 102* and 66* runs in 120 deliveries, as Sri Lanka won the match by eight wickets in an innings that will never be forgotten.