Two weeks after he was suspended for an altercation with umpires, Bangladesh international Towhid Hridoy has received a fresh ban for dissent in the Dhaka Premier League.
The latest incident took place during a Super League game between Hridoy's Mohammedan Sporting Club, and Gazi Group Cricketers on April 26.
Match 79, Mohammedan Sporting Club vs Gazi Group Cricketers
vs
- Ball by ball Over
Gazi were bowled out for 236 after electing to bat first, and Mohammedan were 146-3 in 32 overs when Hridoy was dismissed. Attempting to drive a full delivery from leggie Wasi Siddiquee, the ball went past Hridoy's bat, deflected off the wicketkeeper's gloves and lobbed up to Sheikh Parvez Jibon at point.
The bowling team appealed for a catch, feeling the ball had taken the edge of Hridoy's bat on the way. The umpire agreed and raised the finger, and before leaving the wicket, Hridoy gestured vaguely and disappointedly at the spot the ball had pitched.
Later in the day, it emerged that he had been handed one demerit point for showing dissent at an umpire's decision – taking his tally to eight and earning him a four-match suspension. As a result, he will miss a title-deciding clash against Abahani Ltd on April 29, and the first three games of next season.
Timeline of Towhid Hridoy's suspension saga
Just two weeks ago, Hridoy had received a one-match ban after an on-field altercation with umpires. His comments in the media ("Saikat is an international umpire and we respect him. But we are also international players.") following the game saw him earn three more demerit points to take his season total up to seven – resulting in a two-match ban.
Hridoy did miss Mohammedan's next game against Legends of Rupganj, but was back in the playing XI against Agrani Bank after that, to the surprise of many. The official line from Mohammedan was that they had made a successful appeal to reduce the ban, but Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis' (CCDM) technical committee member Enamul Haque Moni resigned after saying he was unsure how the suspension had been reduced.
The umpire involved in Hridoy's on-field spat, Sharfuddoula Saikat, then threatened to quit domestic umpiring over the handling of the situation. Moni's replacement on the technical committee, BCB director Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, then announced that Hridoy would be suspended for Mohammedan's next match, against Gazi Group.
On Friday, April 25, several cricketers, led by Tamim Iqbal, met BCB President Faruque Ahmed to gain clarity on the situation. The board later stated that the suspension had been deferred over a 12-month period. But the issue was only made murkier when CCDM chairman Mohammad Salahuddin claimed that no such action had been taken.
As of April 27, the flip-flopping on Hridoy's original ban remains unresolved.
Image credit: YouTube / T Sports
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