Cricket's lawmakers MCC appeared to backtrack on the Ravichandran Ashwin 'Mankad' controversy on Wednesday when they said that the Indian's running out of Jos Buttler in an IPL game was "not within the spirit of the game".
Earlier this week, the MCC insisted that the rule governing the 'Mankad' was essential to avoid unrestrained backing-up.
On Wednesday, the MCC's manager of the Laws Fraser Stewart told British media in the UAE that they had now reviewed their original statement.
"Having extensively reviewed the incident again and after further reflection we don't think it was within the spirit of the game," Stewart said.
"We believe the pause was too long between the time Ashwin reached the crease and the moment it was reasonable to expect the ball would be delivered.
"When Buttler could have reasonably expected the ball to be delivered, he was in his ground."