Shathira Jakir Jessy umpiring during DPL game© X (formerly Twitter)
The Dhaka Premier League (DPL) match between Mohammedan Sporting and Prime Bank on Thursday witnessed a massive controversy over a female umpire officiating in the match, according to a report by The Daily Star. Shathira Jakir Jessy scripted history by becoming the first female umpire from Bangladesh to officiate in a DPL match after she was recently added in the ICC development panel. However, the occasion was marred by controversy as team officials from both sides were unhappy with the decision taken by Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM) to appoint a female umpire. The incident went viral and players like Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim were criticised for their involvement.
“More than the players, the team officials were vocal regarding this,” a BCB source said.
“Yes, they were unhappy that BCB had appointed a female umpire but the match had to go on,” BCB umpires’ committee chairman Iftekhar Ahmed Mithu told The Daily Star.
“They made comments regarding their unhappiness [regarding appointment]. They did not make the complaint to me but did so with CCDM. It’s unfortunate since our Prime Minister is a woman. We should encourage these appointments,” he added.
Things got worse when Mushfiqur Rahim was caught in the deep by Abu Haider Rony but replays showed that his foot was over the boundary rope when the catch was completed. However, no video reviews were available in the match and the on-field umpires decided to rule against Mushfiqur.
Later, in an interview with The Business Standard, Iftekhar Ahmed said that the clubs did not register a formal complaint and the issue was regarding the umpire’s experience and not gender.
“There was no formal complaint to us from either club. Some are suggesting the players were reluctant, but that’s completely wrong,” Iftekhar Ahmed told TBS.
“Prime Bank’s manager, Shikdar Abul Hashem Kankan, and Mohammedan’s Tarikul Islam Tito have admitted that they expressed dissatisfaction due to inexperienced umpires, not because they were female. Primarily, they were unhappy because they were given inexperienced umpires to officiate such an important match,” he added.
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