Bangladesh middle-order batsman Mushfiqur Rahim was given out obstructing the field during day one’s play of their second Test against New Zealand in Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium Wednesday.
The incident happened in the second session, and in the fourth ball of the 41st over.
New Zealand pacer Kyle Jamieson was bowling to Mushfiq and having played a defensive shot, the batter pushed the ball away with his gloves after defending it.
The ball was going away from the stumps by significant distance but Mushfiq just played a forward defensive shot and immediately guided the ball further outside off using his right hand.
New Zealand team appealed for the dismissal immediately and the on-field umpires had a little chat before sending it upstairs to check for "obstructing the field".
The third umpire was satisfied that Mushfiq had stopped the ball deliberately and thus given out eventually.
Mushfiq became the first Bangladeshi to get out obstructing the field across any format in international cricket.
He looked well set when the incident happened as he was batting on 35 off 83 balls with three fours and one six.
With Mushfiq’s dismissal, Bangladesh were reduced to 104 for five after electing to bat first.
Previously this kind of dismissal was classified as "handled the ball", but a change in the laws in 2017 removed the "handled the ball" category and brought it under "obstructing the field".
According to Law 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."
Former Tigers’ skipper Tamim Iqbal was in the commentary box during the opening day’s play when Mushfiq got out this way.
Tamim looked surprised at the way Mushfiq, one of his long-time teammate, got out and expressed bewilderment.
"A cricketer who has played over 80 Tests should know he can't do that. Habit can make this happen. In the nets, batters often take the ball in hand and return it back to the bowler. Maybe Mushfiq did it unconsciously and extended his hands. But this obviously can't be an excuse,” Tamim said on air.
Bangladesh all-rounder Mehedi Hasan Miraz said it was unintentional and perhaps Mushfiq just went with the flow of the moment.
“It was not intentional. I am sure he did not do it on purpose. Maybe his action was with the flow or instant reaction,” said Miraz at the post day press conference.
Mushfiq is overall the ninth batter to get out for obstructing the field in Test cricket.
Before Mushfiq, England batsman Michael Vaughan was the last batsman to get dismissed in this fashion back in 2001.