[PICTURES/VIDEO] Mushfiqur Rahim given out obstructing the field vs New Zealand

[BouncerGuy]

Today during 2nd test match against New Zealand, Mushfiqur Rahim became the first player from Bangladesh to be given out handling the ball!

After reviewing the replays, the third umpire is convinced and declares Mushfiq out for obstructing the field. The delivery was a back-of-a-length ball outside off, which Mushfiqur defended gently. He then used his right hand to deflect the ball, even though it wasn’t close to the off-stump, leaving everyone wondering why he used his hand.

Since 2017, ‘handling the ball’ has been categorized under ‘obstructing the field’.

I think he was not actually trying to stop the ball from going into his stumps. Quite an awkward dismissal yet again for a batter. What do you think?
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https://imgur.com/B6SXM7x

 

[Devadwal]

Really embarassing from experience batsman like Rahim.

 

[BouncerGuy]

No batter in the world would have liked this kind of dismissal. Can change the whole scenario of the game.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Explained: Why Mushfiqur Rahim was given out against New Zealand

Mushfiqur Rahim became the first Bangladesh Men's batter to be involved in this bizarre dismissal.

Mushfiqur was given out obstructing the field in the 41st over, leaving his side five down as he became only the first Bangladesh Men's batter to be dismissed in this fashion.

The veteran batter defended the ball and extended his right hand to keep the ball away which looked to come out of instinct albeit the ball was far from the stumps. Mushfiqur was confounded as to what unfolded next.

New Zealand players appealed and the on-field umpires sent the decision to the third umpire to review. The TV umpire was satisfied after watching the replays that Mushfiqur stopped the ball deliberately and was given out.

Since 2017, handling the ball has been included within the ambit of obstructing the field. The Laws of Cricket regarding this rule after the update reads as follows:

37.1.1 Either batter is out Obstructing the field if, except in the circumstances of 37.2, and while the ball is in play, he/she wilfully attempts to obstruct or distract the fielding side by word or action. See also Law 34 (Hit the ball twice).

37.1.2 The striker is out Obstructing the field if, except in the circumstances of 37.2, in the act of receiving a ball delivered by the bowler, he/she wilfully strikes the ball with a hand not holding the bat. This will apply whether it is the first strike or a second or subsequent strike. The act of receiving the ball shall extend both to playing at the ball and to striking the ball more than once in defence of his/her wicket.

With the ball still in play and Mushfiqur 'wilfully' pushing the ball away, he had to be sent back to the dressing room after scoring 35 off 83 balls.

Mushfiqur's dismissal is also the first batter to be dismissed for obstructing the field in Tests since the rule update in 2017. While previously, seven batters have been given out 'handling the ball' in Men's Tests history.
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ICC

 

[Asad T]

The ball was not even going to hit the stumps, really silly that is

 

[Asad T]

Against the spirit of the game for NZ to have appealed? The ball was not going to hit the stumps

 

[SaimFan]

ICC has some very poor rules. If he had kicked the ball or used bat, he would have been fine, but using hand is out?

Handling the ball should not be out in any circumstance.

 

[Asad T]

The former England captain welcomes Mushfiqur to the ball handling club:

https://x.com/i/web/status/1732317911174238507

 

[BouncerGuy]

Against the spirit of the game for NZ to have appealed? The ball was not going to hit the stumps

I do not like the idea of the spirit of the game actually. ICC has made the rules for a reason and if it is against the rule then there is a problem else it is the opposition team's right to appeal.

 

[Mainul]

I do not like the idea of the spirit of the game actually. ICC has made the rules for a reason and if it is against the rule then there is a problem else it is the opposition team's right to appeal.

I agree. Rules are rules. There is no rules for the 'spirit of the game '.

 

[Buffet]

Against BD everything is ok. Have zero sympathy for BD players and team.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Mushfiq serves legal notice to Ekattor TV

The legal notice was served to the Head of News, Sports Editor and the Reporter of Ekattor Television through email on behalf of Mushfiq.

Mushfiqur Rahim, the seasoned wicketkeeper-batsman from Bangladesh, has issued a legal notice to the Bengali-language satellite and cable news channel, Ekattor TV. The notice, presented by Shihab Uddin Khan, Barrister-at-Law Advocate at the Bangladesh Supreme Court, contends that during the first innings of the second Test match against New Zealand at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Mushfiqur was incorrectly given out obstructing the field.

Subsequent to this dismissal, Ekattor TV broadcasted/published/uploaded a news report on their YouTube Channel with the title/caption/headline “The smell of spot fixing in Mirpur test! Doubts are on the senior cricketer"! presented by reporter Saiful Rupak.

The notice on behalf of Mushfiqur highlights that the report, both in language and imagery, contained serious derogatory and defamatory remarks and innuendos against the cricketer. It implied that he intentionally obstructed the field, insinuating a connection to match- or spot-fixing based on his dismissal.

The legal notice was served to the Head of News, Sports Editor and the Reporter of Ekattor Television through email on behalf of Mushfiq.

The legal notice demanded immediate amendments to the aforesaid report by:

a) Immediately taking steps to remove the offending report from YouTube and all other social media sites where it may have been published;

b) Broadcasting on Ekattor TV an unconditional apology for having broadcast the offending report, stating that it was false and unverified;

c) Issuing a public press release seeking unconditional apology for having broadcast the offending report, stating that it was false and unverified; and

d) Assure our client in writing that the reporter Saiful Rupak has been cautioned to be more careful in future.

Mushfiq’s legal notice to the news channel claimed that the report and its publication in the manner it has been seen, accessed, and downloaded by countless millions throughout Bangladesh and the rest of the world, has lowered the cricketer’s image.

Dhaka Tribune

 

[FearlessRoar]

News channels should exercise caution before making serious allegations against any player.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

This was a mode if dismissal brought up after Timeout.

Spirit of cricket is common courtesy.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Batters given out obstructing the field and timed out in Ghana-Sierra Leone Africa Cup T20I

In Africa Cup T20I clash between Ghana and Sierra Leone today (December 18) witnessed both an obstructing the field and a timed out dismissal, and each involved the same two cricketers on either side.

The first incident came in Sierra Leone’s batting innings, with Abbas Gibla the batter given out obstructing the field. He defended the right-arm seam of Godfred Bakwenyam back down the pitch and attempted to run a single, but was in danger of being run out by the bowler. Having initially run off the pitch, his run curved back towards the ball, with his leg making contact as the bowler bent to pick up, averting a run out. Bakwenyam wrung his hand in pain in the aftermath.

Ghana appealed, and after a consultation, the umpires sent Gibla on his way.

In the second innings, Bakwenyam was out in unusual fashion, following the dismissal of Ghana captain Samson Awiah, bowled by a sharp yorker. More than two minutes elapsed between the fall of the wicket and Bakwenyam being ready to face, and just as Gibla was about to finish his over, an appeal could be heard. The umpire raised his finger, and Bakwenyam was sent on his way.

It is not clear what the cause of the delay was, though the score ticker on the live stream initially showed that the over had been completed before correctly displaying that there was one ball left. Before Bakwenyam’s entry, a Sierra Leonean fielder can be seen running up to the umpire, who then looks at his watch. After Bakwenyam was given out, a fielder can be seen tapping his wrist. Bakwenyam then had a discussion with the square leg umpire, but was sent on his way.

The game was a tense one, with Ghana chasing 112 to win with two balls and two wickets to spare. Sierra Leone’s defeat meant that they missed out on the semi-finals, with Botswana instead taking on Uganda. The latter recently qualified for next year’s T20 World Cup, but haven’t had everything their own way in this competition, defeated by Rwanda by two runs in their opening game. They thrashed Botswana by 10 wickets to set up a final against Kenya.

Both obstructing the field and timed out dismissals have come to prominence recently. In the 2023 World Cup, Angelo Mathews became the first batter in international cricket history to be given timed out in Sri Lanka’s game against Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim then became the first Test batter to be given out obstructing the field for more than 70 years after deflecting the ball away from his stumps with his hand in a game against New Zealand.

This instance marks the first timed out dismissal in T20Is. It is also believed to be the first instance of a timed out dismissal and an obstructing the field dismissal both occurring in any top-level game.

SOURCE: WISDEN​