MOMENTS
RASHID OUT, RASHID IN
The first Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match yesterday, between Dhaka Dynamites and Comilla Victorians, began in a state of confusion. To the surprise of many, the team list provided to the media by Comilla did not include Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan in the playing eleven. Curious reporters were eager to learn the reason behind the exclusion but Rashid soon appeared on the ground and prepared to bowl his first over. It was then that the Victorians team management, who had clearly made a blunder in the first list, provided a revised list which included Rashid.
TENSIONS TURN TO TURMOIL
Emotions continue to run high in BPL fixtures, and yesterday was no exception. Players seem to be losing their temper more often than not, with a recent example being the on-field altercation on Saturday against an umpire involving Comilla Victorians Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das. Two days later, it was Dhaka Dynamites' Mosaddek Hossain who lost his temper after being bowled by Pakistani fast bowler Hasan Ali in the first ball of the 16th over. Following the wicket, Ali completed his trademark celebration before indicating the way back to the dressing room. This act clearly irked Mosaddek as he then stepped towards the bowler to exchange words. However, Tamim showed his versatility by playing peacemaker and calmed Mosaddek, ushering the reluctant youngster off the field.
The second incident of the day, involving the same umpire from Saturday, saw Dynamites skipper Shakib Al Hasan become furious at umpire Ranmore Martinesz over a leg-before decision. It was during the fifth ball of the ninth over when Comilla's Imrul Kayes went for a flick off a back-of-a-length Shakib delivery which pitched towards the leg-middle but turned back to hit the pad. Shakib was confident of the wicket and optimistically made an appeal to the Sri Lankan, who turned it down. Shakib probably could not hold himself back, aiming a few harsh words at the official before kicking the ground in frustration. The crowd saw this as quite an ugly and unexpected reaction from the star all-rounder and booed from the stands.