Towhid Hridoy Faces Four-Match Suspension from Bangladesh Cricket Board
Bangladesh Cricket Board Suspends Towhid Hridoy
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced a four-match suspension for international cricketer Towhid Hridoy due to an incident of dissent during a recent Dhaka Premier League (DPL) Super League match. This event took place on April 26, during a game where Hridoy's team, Mohammedan Sporting Club, faced off against Gazi Group Cricketers.
The match was held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, where Gazi Group Cricketers set a target of 236 runs after batting first. Mohammedan was in a strong position at 146/3 in 32 overs when Hridoy was dismissed.
Attempting to drive a full delivery from leg-spinner Wasi Siddiquee, Hridoy missed the ball, which deflected off the wicketkeeper's gloves and was caught by Sheikh Parvez Jibon at point.
The fielding team appealed for a catch, claiming the ball had touched Hridoy's bat. Umpire Moniruzzaman Tinku sided with the appeal and declared Hridoy out.
As he walked off, Hridoy expressed his frustration at the umpire's decision by gesturing towards the pitch.
Following this incident, Hridoy was found guilty of dissent, resulting in a penalty of one demerit point. This brought his total demerit points to eight, leading to the four-match suspension.
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The suspension, issued on April 27, means Hridoy will miss a crucial title-deciding match against Abahani Ltd on April 29, along with the first three matches of the next season.
This latest ban follows a one-match suspension Hridoy received just two weeks prior for another incident involving umpires. His media comments after that incident contributed to additional demerit points, bringing his total to seven before this latest sanction.
Controversy Surrounding Hridoy's Previous Suspension
Hridoy's earlier suspension had generated significant controversy, prompting Mohammedan Sporting Club to appeal to the BCB for a reduction of the ban. Although the appeal was partially successful, Hridoy still missed a match against the Legends of Rupganj.
The situation escalated when BCB officials, including Enamul Haque Moni from the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM), resigned due to confusion over the suspension's reduction.
Tensions rose further when umpire Sharfuddoula Saikat, involved in the previous incident, threatened to resign from domestic umpiring due to the mishandling of the situation. The BCB subsequently confirmed that Hridoy would serve a suspension for the match against Gazi Group.
Despite the BCB's announcement, confusion persists. On April 25, a group of players led by Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal met with BCB President Faruque Ahmed to address the issue. While the BCB indicated that the suspension would be deferred over a 12-month period, CCDM chairman Mohammad Salahuddin later stated that no such action had been taken.
As of April 28, the uncertainty surrounding Hridoy's suspension remains, with no clear resolution in sight.