BCB

BCB RESCUES CONTROVERSIAL UMPIRES OF LOWER-TIER AGAIN


Bangladesh Cricket Board rescues their controversial umpires as Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis, a body to run the club based leagues in Dhaka, recommended punishment of coach, captain and a player of Dhaka Royal Cricketers- a participant of the lower tier competition-for misbehaving with the umpires in the just concluded third division cricket league.

The decision once again exposed the inability of BCB when it comes to going harsh against corrupt umpires who are ruining the show at the lower tier.

While the players, officials and coach of DRC was charged with punishment for misbehaving with the umpires after they accepted their guilt in the hearing at BCB premises on Monday, according to sources no charge was framed against the two umpires known to be the main villain.

Royal’s manager Sabbir Ahmed Rubel, who is currently staying abroad, failed to attend the hearing of Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis at the BCB premises on Novemeber1 but notified CCDM officials that he would meet them once he returns back to the country.

CCDM officials said that all the three person- captain Omi, coach is Rony and player Salman- involved in the fiasco had accepted their guilt during the hearing and they have sent their recommendation to BCB for further course of action.

‘’During the hearing, Rubel did not come. He is currently outside, not in Bangladesh. He is in India, when he will return, he will come to hearing. And two players, team’s captain and a player and team’s coach, they were in hearing session. They accepted their faults and admitted that they did injustice to the umpires as they abused the umpire. They accepted their allegation,’’ said a CCDM official.

‘’Our discipline committee forwarded to the board with reference and now whatever the decision board takes, that will be followed by the discipline committee,’’ he said.

‘’They might be suspended. Even the official [Rubel] will also get suspended if he made any mistake and that gets proved during the hearing. Because they have admitted it, we will try to make it as minimum punishment as we can,’’ he said adding that according to the bylaws there is a provision that states if anyone is found guilty on misbehaving with the umpire he can be banned from one to three years.

A viral video on Facebook on November 18 once again put the umpiring irregularities in country’s domestic circuit on the forefront and imposed questions over BCB claims of ridding corruption from the root level.

In a video that made its way to members of the country’s cricketing fraternity, a number of players were seen using foul language while accusing two on-field umpires of making biased decisions to help their opposing team win the match.

The match referee and police officers then entered the field to diffuse the situation as the umpires in question fled from the scene, but the incensed players continued their rant.

This incident took place after the conclusion of the third-division match between Dhaka Royal Cricketers and Kamrangirchor Sporting Club at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah on November 18.

The video that was uploaded by Royal’s club officials on his Facebook page showed that players and officials were chanting ‘thief, thief!’ at two ‘controversial’ umpires -- Jahirul Islam Jewel and Saidur Rahman.

The Dhaka Royal Cricketers official alleged that their batsman Zahid Hasan was about to single-handedly take the team past Kamrangir Char Sporting Club’s 148 after many controversial decisions from the umpires. Zahid, along with Taslimuddin, made sure during a 79-run partnership that they would not allow the ball to hit their pads.

The scenario changed once Taslim returned to the pavilion as a batsman was adjudged leg before wicket even though he came down the wicket. Then a surprising new low awaited Zahid when the umpire raised his finger in response to the wicketkeeper’s run-out appeal even though the batsman was standing inside the crease.

The official added that in sharp contrast, earlier in the match Kamrangir Char batsman Mortaza Ahmed, on 20, was well out of the crease when the Dhaka Royal wicketkeeper broke the stumps but the umpires ruled in favour of the batsman, who went on to score 51.

“This match was very important as both teams had three points and only a win could stave off relegation for either team. All the decisions went against us. Just ask who runs Kamrangir Char Club, you can then understand why it happened. We were worried once we saw the two umpires. We knew when these two umpires came that it would be impossible for us to win. How can one [Jahirul Islam Jewel] who is a representative of Purbachal Club officiate in the match,” said Royals official Rubel immediately after the match and lodged a complaint to match referee and former national cricketer Monjurul Islam.