Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim became the first batter in Test cricket to be given out for ‘obstructing the field’ during the second Test in Mirpur against New Zealand. Rahim had stopped the ball using his hand and the Kiwis appealed immediately. Rahim was fifth wicket to fall for Bangladesh who eventually folded for 172 in their first innings.

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The incident happened in the 41st over when Rahim defended a delivery from New Zealand bowler Kyle Jamieson. The ball bounced wide of off stump and Rahim used his right hand to swat it away further. The appeal from the Kiwis was upheld by TV umpire Ahsan Raza and Rahim walked off the field after scoring 35 off 83 balls. Have a look at the video below:

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Talking the incident, former Bangladesh skipper Tamim Iqbal, who was commentating at the moment, said: “A cricketer who has played over 80 Tests should know he can’t do that. Practice habit can make this happen. In the nets, batters often take the ball in hand and return it back to the bowler. May be Mushfiqur did it unconsciously and extended his hand. But this obviously can’t be an excuse.”

It was, however, the case of ‘handle the ball’ but the rule has been removed in 2017 and brought 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.”

It wasn’t the first time Rahim had tried to swat the ball away using his hands in the Test. Before his dismissal, the batter had tried the same thing in the 29th over of the innings, but his hand failed to connect with the ball.

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