DPL, a field of shameful incidents

Just as gentlemanship is a part of the game, controversies are also a part of the game. 

The Dhaka Premier League is not only a traditional major event on the Bangladesh domestic calendar but also an opportunity for the country’s cricketers who are not part of the national team. They are still dependent on these competitions for their bread and butter despite the money-spinning Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

For the Bangladesh cricket team, there have been many cricketers who have excelled in the DPL and gone on to get the coveted national cap. But there have been also cases that the prestigious tournament has come under bad light for being witness to some really shameful incidents. 

DPL history is filled with incidents of brutality and chicanery on the field.

Bangladesh poster boy Shakib Al Hasan has a very intriguing relationship over the years and he yet again hogged the limelight during a high-voltage DPL match between Mohammedan and Abahani on Friday where he did many shameful incidents in one match that went against the spirit of the game.

Shakib first shocked everyone when the Mohammedan’s captain kicked the stumps in bowlers’ end after the umpire turned down a leg before appeal against Abahani Captain. 

The video footage, however, showed Mushfiq was clearly out as the ball was in the line and hit Mushfiq’s pad but surprisingly umpire was not too late to refuse the appeal that led to the furious Shakib kicking the stumps. 

Despite the incident, Mohammedan seemed to win the match comfortably and with one ball left in the sixth over of the Abahani innings, the umpire asked the groundsmen to bring the covers as the rain was looming.

Shakib, however, could not accept the decision and ran from his field position to uproot all the stumps. Not only that, Shakib started abusing some Abahani supporters with ugly language and before leaving the field Shakib and Abahani Coach Khaled Mahmud involved in verbal clash.

It is not the first time that DPL witnessed such an ugly act. Be it match-fixing, players fighting with each other or abusing umpires, DPL has been through plenty of bad days.

Like Shakib, Bangladesh ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal also has a history of losing cool and becoming a party to ugly exchanges and has been reprimanded and fined on several occasions for his ugly behaviour in DPL.

Followed by cementing their place in all three formats of cricket for the Bangladesh team, Shakib and Tamim became more aggressive with verbal duels against opposition even with on-field umpires.

The dashing opener made headlines for his involvement in a brutal on-field altercation with the on-field umpires Gazi Sohel and Tanvir Hidar in 2016 during DPL super league match between Abahani Limited and Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club. Even Abahani skipper Tamim had almost come close to exchanging blows with on-field umpires at BKSP ground. 

In 2012 during DPL, Tamim was handed a one-match ban for ugly behaviour while playing for Victoria Sporting Club against Old DOHS at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. 

During that time, he almost came close to exchanging blows with ex-national skipper Mohammad Ashraful, the Old DOHS skipper. After completing hearing formalities, Tamim had to accept a one-match ban and Tk 5 thousand fine.

Bangladesh cricket team is now one of the most exciting and competitive sides in one-day cricket and they are the choice of the new generation. People pay money to watch the fine display of the Tigers and Shakib is surely one of the household names. 

But the passionate cricket fans never expect such ugly spats and verbal duels on the field that has already damaged the clean image of the Bangladesh cricket team.