Mushfiqur Rahim dismissed for obstructing the field, first for Bangladesh - Watch video

Mushfiqur Rahim introduced himself into the Bangladesh cricket history books on Tuesday but for the wrong reasons. He was dismissed for obstructing the field on the first day of the second Test against New Zealand in Mirpur.

Rahim defended a Kyle Jamieson delivery in the 41st over of Bangladesh’s first innings. However, he failed to get much distance on his defence shot and as soon he realised the ball could be heading towards the stumps, he shoved it away with his left glove.

The New Zealand fielders appealed for an obstructing the field dismissal. The on-field umpires discussed briefly before deciding to send it to the TV umpire for a review.

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

The TV umpire adjudged that Rahim had intentionally handled the ball and gave him out for obstructing the field. With this decision, Rahim became the first Bangladesh batter to be out obstructing the field in international cricket.

Interestingly, Rahim had tried to push the ball away from the stumps in similar manner earlier in the innings but didn’t make contact then.

Rahim became the fifth Bangladesh wicket to fall, leaving the hosts stuttering at 104/5.

England’s Leonard Hutton was the only other batter to be dismissed for obstructing the field in Test cricket. It happened against South Africa at The Oval in 1951.

Seven other Test cricketers have been dismissed for handling the ball, a similarly unusual dismissal integrated into “obstructing the field” dismissals when the laws governing cricket were re-written in 2017.

What is the obstructing the field law?

The MCC rulebook says, “The striker is out Obstructing the field if… in the act of receiving a ball delivered by the bowler, he/she wilfully strikes the ball with a hand not holding the bat. This will apply whether it is the first strike or a second or subsequent strike. The act of receiving the ball shall extend both to playing at the ball and to striking the ball more than once in defence of his/her wicket.”