Pakistan batsman Azhar Ali has had a colossal brain fade during the second 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 the ball stopped short of the rope and Mitchell Starc retrieved the ball to wicketkeeper Tim Paine, who removed the bails with an oblivious Azhar stranded well short of his crease.
Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur's disbelieving reaction said it all as Azhar fell for 64 to leave the hosts at 4-160 and leading Australia by 297 runs in their second innings.
It was an unceremonious end to what had been a commanding knock from Azhar, whose stroke-play off the back foot was a highlight through Pakistan's innings.
Australian rookie Marnus Labuschagne was run out after a his own lapse on day two.
The adopted Queenslander was at the non-striker's end when Starc hit a hard return that shot back into legspinner Yasir Shah, then clattered into the stumps.
Replays showed Yasir had got a finger to the ball and Labuschagne had failed to ground his bat.
"It was just a little bit of a brain meltdown, I think from Marnus," offspinner Nathan Lyon said.
"It was just one of those things, just a lapse of concentration for a second, and before you know it you're back in the sheds.
"It was disappointing but that happens in cricket."
