In an unprecedented moment, veteran wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim scripted history by becoming the first Bangladesh Men’s batter to be dismissed for obstructing the field in Test cricket. The incident unfolded during the post-lunch session on day one of the second Test against New Zealand.
In the 41st over, facing Kyle Jamieson, Mushfiqur Rahim defensively extended his right hand to ward off the ball, seemingly an instinctive move even though the ball was far from the stumps. New Zealand players promptly appealed, leading the on-field umpires to refer the decision to the third umpire for review. Upon scrutinizing the replays, TV umpire Ahsan Raza concluded that Rahim deliberately impeded the ball and ruled him out for obstructing the field.
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Since 2017, obstructing the field encompasses instances like Rahim’s dismissal, falling under the category of handling the ball. The updated Laws of Cricket state that a batter is out obstructing the field if they wilfully attempt to obstruct or distract the fielding side by word or action while the ball is in play.
Rahim’s departure, scoring 35 off 83 balls, occurred with the ball still in play, marking a rare and unfortunate moment in cricket history. This incident is the first time a batter has been given out for obstructing the field in Tests since the rule update in 2017. Historically, seven batters have been dismissed for ‘handling the ball’ in Men’s Test cricket before this rule amendment.
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