Mushfiqur Rahim's Handling The Ball Dismissal against Newzealand

In a surprising turn of events during the first day of the second Test between Bangladesh and New Zealand, seasoned Bangladesh batter Mushfiqur Rahim found himself on the wrong side of a rare dismissal – ‘handling the ball.’

Rahim, known for his proficiency as a wicket-keeper batter, faced an unusual exit from the pitch, becoming the first Bangladeshi player to be dismissed in this manner.

The incident occurred during an over from New Zealand‘s Kyle Jamieson, where Rahim, accustomed to using his hands while standing around the stumps, was deemed to have handled the ball. This unique dismissal places Rahim among a select group of cricketers, including Mohinder Amarnath, Mohsin Khan, and Michael Vaughan, who have faced a similar fate in the sport’s history.

Players being dismissed for handling the ball are exceptionally rare in international cricket. Rahim joins the ranks of the 11 players who have been sent back to the pavilion for using their hands while the ball was still in play. What added to the intrigue was that the ball wasn’t even heading towards the stumps before Rahim intervened, diverting it away with his hands.

After being referred to the third umpire, the decision ultimately favored the bowling team, marking Rahim’s departure from the crease. He had scored 35 runs from 83 balls before this unexpected turn of events.

According to the rulebook, a batsman is considered out ‘Handled the ball’ if they willfully touch the ball with a hand or hands not holding the bat, unless with the consent of a fielder. The dismissal also applies if, without the consent of a fielder, the batsman uses their hand or hands not holding the bat to return the ball to any fielder. However, a batsman will not be given out under this law if they handle the ball to avoid injury.

It’s crucial to note that the bowler doesn’t receive credit for the wicket in this peculiar dismissal. The incident has sparked discussions on social media, with fans expressing their surprise and fascination at this rare occurrence in cricket.