Former Pakistani cricketer, Rashid Latif, Mondya expressed dissatisfaction with free-hit being awarded to batsmen when a bowler bowls a no-ball in the limited-overs cricket.
The 52-year-old took to his Twitter account, saying this rule gives rise to corruption in the game.
“Free hit on no-ball, worst rule/law in cricket. The huge window for individual (corruption) act, but effect all teams,” He said.
The free-hit rule, which was introduced in 2007, can drastically change the course of a game as the batsman can play the ball freely with no fear of losing a wicket.
The law states that if the umpire has deemed delivery as a no-ball, whether the bowler steps out of the bowling crease or sends the ball directly above the waist height, the batsman gets a free-hit the next ball.
On free-hit delivery, the batsman can only march back to the pavilion if he gets run-out. Thus, it’s a massive advantage for the batting side.
As per ICC’s rule for white-ball cricket, “the delivery following a no-ball called (all modes of no-ball) shall be a free hit for whichever batsman is facing it. If the delivery for the free hit is not legitimate (any kind of no ball or wide ball) then the next delivery will become a free hit for whichever batsman is facing it.”