A top official of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed that the cricketers didn’t have any reservations about accepting Sahtira Jakir Jessy as the umpire of a Dhaka Premier League (DPL) match.
Former national player Jessy was the first ever female umpire to officiate a DPL match when she stood in a high-voltage match between Mohammedan Sporting Club and Prime Bank Cricket Club on April 25.
But several media outlets claimed that cricketers from both teams, including three senior cricketers Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad and Tamim Iqbal refused to play under a female umpire. They also claimed that the players’ denial delayed the start of the game at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, reports BSS.
“It’s absolutely a false news that the players refused to play under a female umpire,” Iftekhar Ahmed Mithu, chairman of the BCB umpires’ committee said on Sunday.
“But the club officials have a little reservation, considering Jessy’s experience to officiate a match in a high-voltage DPL game. That’s just it.”
As per the norms, the coach and captain from each team submit a report after any game. Mithu claimed that no clubs made any complaints about Jessy’s appointment as an umpire.
After the news broke out, the players, especially Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah and Tamim were subjected to a severe backlash for their refusal to play under a female umpire.
Jessy also refuted the news, saying that the senior players congratulated her after officiating the match successfully.
“I have a good rapport with the senior players. I am very surprised to come to know about this news in the media. Every player, including Mushfiqur, and Mahmudullah praised my umpiring after the match. How can they do such a baseless report,” Jessy told the reporters.
The match was marred by veteran Mushfiqur Rahim’s dismissal as he was given out controversially after making 10.
During the 33.4 overs of Prime Bank innings, Mushfiqur's lofted shot against off-spinner Nayeem Hasan was caught at deep mid-wicket by Abu Haider Rony, who made a terrific effort to hold on to it. However, replays showed that Rony's leg had touched the boundary ropes which clearly moved after the contact.
Prime Bank raised concerns over the on-field umpires' decision but with no TV replays and third umpires unavailable in DPL games, the umpires stuck to their decision.
“To be honest we are surprised to see Jessy as an umpire of the game but we didn’t raise any question about her. We were just concerned that traditionally umpiring is very difficult in a DPL game because the situation could be heated at any time. Moreover, that was a big match,” Mohammedan’s chief co-ordinator Tariqul Islam Titu said.
“But she was brilliant on the ground and took good decisions at the crunch moment. She handled the game very well.”
Prime Bank manager Shikdar Abul Hashem echoed the same, saying that they talked about Jessy’s experience just.
“What made us worried was that she was not experienced enough to handle a big game like this. There was no delay in the match. But we, two teams, were a big-budget team, so we wanted an experienced umpire for this match. We didn’t have any written complaints about the appointment of the umpire. We are happy that the game ended without any trouble,” he said.
