Bangladeshi cricketers Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah are in headlines after rumors about them objecting to playing under a female umpire named Shathira Jakir Jessy went viral
For the unfamiliar, in a troubling incident in Bangladesh, a cricket match in the Dhaka Premier League faced a delay of about 15 minutes because both teams objected to the presence of a female umpire.
The controversy occurred during a game between Prime Bank Cricket Club and Mohammedan Sporting Club on Thursday, April 25th.
Did cricketers Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah really refuse to play due to female umpire Shathira Jakir Jessy in the DPL
What made the incident even more surprising was the involvement of Mushfiqur Rahim, a former captain of Bangladesh’s national team and a well-respected figure in the country’s cricket scene, who played for Prime Bank Cricket Club.
Local media sources reported that the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s umpires’ committee revealed that both teams had voiced “disappointment” and “indignation” upon discovering that a female umpire would be officiating.
no objections were raised before or during the match regarding umpire Shathira Jakir Jessy, who joined the ICC's umpire panel in March 2023. Both players and their respective clubs have publicly supported Jessy, expressing satisfaction with her officiating.
— furkan memon (@furkanmemon3) April 29, 2024
Despite their protests, they were eventually forced to accept the decision. Given the female umpire’s unpleasant experience, the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM) may consider disciplinary action against the teams.
However, as per reports, the committee has yet to initiate an investigation.
Is the Incident True as Rumors Claim?
According to the interview with the parties involved in the matter, these rumors are unfounded. According to a leading media house, sources revealed that no objections were raised as claimed by the rumors.
Instead, both the club and the players have supported the female umpire identified as Shathira Jakir Jessy. Earlier, during an interview, Mushfiqur Rahim expressed that nobody objected to the decision.
In his statement, the 36-year-old former captain of the Bangladesh national team said, “Neither I nor any player raised any question or objection about it. I was rather happy to see a female umpire has come so far and included in the panel of ICC umpires.”
Mushfiqur Rahim clarified that the concerns about the recent match were focused on the umpire’s inexperience in high-stakes games, not her gender. He remarked, “If a male umpire had made his debut in this match, similar questions would have been raised.”
Club, Players & Umpire Reveal Truth
Mahmudullah reinforced this point, stating, “After the match, I made a point to congratulate her, saying ‘Great job with the umpiring.’ We aren’t the type to discriminate like that.”
He expressed frustration with the misleading rumors, underscoring how such stories harm the reputation of Bangladesh cricket. Prime Bank Cricket Club and Mohammedan, the teams involved, also rejected these allegations.
Prime Bank issued a statement emphasizing their commitment to equality and respect for all, irrespective of gender.
They asserted, “The reports suggesting that Prime Bank Cricket Club refused to play under a specific umpire are completely unfounded.”
In addition, Umpire Shathira Jakir also clarified that her role in the match was not opposed due to her gender.
She mentioned that the initial surprise from players stemmed from her limited Premier League experience, but after the match, she received praise from several players, including Mahmudullah, for her performance.
Origin of Rumors
The controversy seems to have originated from a comment by Iftekhar Ahmed, the head of the BCB umpires committee, who initially suggested that clubs were displeased with the assignment of a female umpire.
However, he later conceded that there had been no formal complaints from the players, who had commended Jessy following the match.
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