Mushfiqur Rahim of Bangladesh became the country’s first hitter to be ejected for disturbing the pitch on the first day of the second Test against New Zealand in Dhaka today.
Tamim Iqbal, who is making his international commentary debut today, believes that a player who has played over 80 Tests should have known better than to handle the ball.
Mushfiqur is expelled for obstructing the pitch.
Mushfiqur was on 35 when he fended off a delivery that was near to his feet. Even though the ball was travelling away from the stumps, the hitter pulled it away with his gloves, prompting the umpires to walk upstairs to investigate obstructing the pitch dismissal.
“A cricketer with over 80 Tests should know he can’t do that,” Tamim stated from the commentary box.
Tamim is ‘excited’ to make his international commentary debut.
Previously, ‘handling the ball’ was a separate form of dismissal until a legislation reform in 2017 put it under impeding the pitch.
Seven batters have previously been dismissed for handling the ball, with England’s Michael Vaughan and Australia’s Steve Waugh being the most recent in 2001.
Mushfiqur has became the ninth hitter to be sent for blocking the pitch, following England’s Sir Len Hutton’s dismissal in 1951. However, in terms of ball handling, Mushfiqur is now the eighth batsman to be out in this fashion.
According to Tamim, net practise can occasionally build a negative habit of handling the ball.
“A habit of practise can make this happen.” Batters frequently take the ball in hand and return it to the bowler in the nets. Mushfiqur may have extended his hands unconsciously. “However, this obviously cannot be an excuse,” Tamim added in remark.