Watch: Bangladesh Batter Mushfiqur Rahim Uses Hand To Stop Ball, Given Out

Bangladesh cricketer Mushfiqur Rahim became the victim of a rare dismissal during the first day of the second Test against New Zealand on Wednesday. The wicket-keeper batter, used to using his hands while standing around the stumps, was dismissed for handling the ball during an over from New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson. In the process, Rahim became the first player ever from Bangladesh to have been dismissed in the fashion. He joined the rare list of cricketers, including the likes of Mohinder Amarnath, Mohsin Khan, Michael Vaughan, etc. to have been dismissed in the manner.

Not many cricketers in international cricket have been dismissed while handling the ball. Rahim became the 11th player to have been sent back to the dressing room for using his hands while a delivery was not dead. 

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...
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.#BANvNZ pic.twitter.com/SC7IepKRTh

— FanCode (@FanCode) December 6, 2023

Rahim had scored 35 runs from 83 balls before he was forced to return to the pavilion for a rare reason. What baffled fans on social media was the fact that the ball wasn't even going to touch the stumps before Rahim used his hands to divert it away. 

The decision was referred to the third umpire who decided the give the call in the bowling team's favour.

Here's what the rulebook says on 'Handling The Ball' dismissal:

Out Handled the ball: (a) Either batsman is out Handled the ball if he wilfully touches the ball while in play with a hand or hands not holding the bat unless he does so with the consent of a fielder. (b) Either batsman is out under this Law if, while the ball is in play, and without the consent of a fielder, he uses his hand or hands not holding the bat to return the ball to any fielder.

Not out Handled the ball: Notwithstanding (a) above, a batsman will not be out under this Law if he handles the ball to avoid injury.

Also to be noted that the bowler doesn't get the credit for the dismissal

Topics mentioned in this article

Bangladesh Cricket Team New Zealand Cricket Team Mushfiqur Rahim Cricket