(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] Bangladesh batter Mushfiqur Rahim was given out obstructing the field in the second Test match of the ongoing series in Dhaka versus New Zealand.
In the 41st over of the innings, Mushfiqur defended the ball and made a deliberate effort to stop it from his hand to deviate it from the line of the stumps.
While this method of dismissal would have earlier come under handling the ball, it later got integrated into the law of obstructing the field in 2017.
According to law 37.1 of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC),
37.1.1 Either batter is out Obstructing the field if, except in the circumstances of 37.2, and while the ball is in play, he/she wilfully attempts to obstruct or distract the fielding side by word or action. See also Law 34 (Hit the ball twice).
37.1.2 The striker is out Obstructing the field if, except in the circumstances of 37.2, in the act of receiving a ball delivered by the bowler, he/she wilfully strikes the ball with a hand not holding the bat. This will apply whether it is the first strike or a second or subsequent strike. The act of receiving the ball shall extend both to playing at the ball and to striking the ball more than once in defence of his/her wicket.
Notably, Mushfiqur had made a similar attempt to stop the ball from his hands earlier in the innings as well but did not find himself in trouble then.
He made an unwanted record of becoming the first Bangladeshi batter and 11th overall to be given out handling the ball.