Bangladesh's veteran wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim made history today—albeit unwanted—by becoming the country's first cricketer to be given out for handling the ball.
On day one of the second Test against New Zealand in Dhaka, Rahim, who was batting on 35, had a brain-fade moment in the 41st over, when he used his hand to push away the ball after playing a defensive shot against pacer Kyle Jamieson. The Kiwis appealed, and the on-field umpires sent it upstairs. The third umpire adjudged that the batter had deliberately handled the ball and gave him out.
Rahim joined the likes of Mohinder Amarnath and Michael Vaughan, who, too, were dismissed in same fashion. In fact, Rahim is the 11th cricketer overall to be given out for handling the ball, and the first in 22 years.
Did Mushfiqur Rahim really need to do that? He's been given out for obstructing the field! This one will be talked about for a while...
— FanCode (@FanCode) December 6, 2023
.
.#BANvNZ pic.twitter.com/SC7IepKRTh
What does ICC's rulebook say
'Handling the ball' now comes under the 'Obstructing the field'. As per the MCC:
37.1 Out Obstructing the field
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.
37.1.3 This Law will apply whether or not No ball is called.
37.4 Returning the ball to a fielder
Either batter is out Obstructing the field if, at any time while the ball is in play and, without the consent of a fielder, he/she uses the bat or any part of his/her person to return the ball to any fielder.
37.6 Bowler does not get credit
Bangladesh were 149/8 at tea. They had won the first Test in Sylhet by 150 runs to raise hopes of a landmark series victory.
