Prime Bank coach, captain and manager fined over controversial run-out and heated exchange

On 3 March, the opening day of the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) witnessed high drama at BKSP when Prime Bank Cricket Club's head coach Talha Jubair, captain Irfan Shukkur and manager Deb Chowdhury were each fined Tk 50,000 for unsporting behaviour during a heated run-out controversy.

The incident, which involved an on-field dispute and a temporary suspension of play, also resulted in Shukkur receiving a one-match ban.

The match between Prime Bank and Rupganj Tigers Cricket Club turned contentious when a disputed run-out decision led to a 15-minute halt. After winning the toss and opting to field, Prime Bank restricted Rupganj to 216 runs in 48.4 overs. In response, Prime Bank found themselves in a precarious position at 23-4 when Shukkur, who had scored just four runs, was run out by a direct throw from Al-Amin Junior. The run-out decision sparked a disagreement among the players, with one side believing Shukkur was out before reaching the crease, while the other side claimed the decision was unclear.

Shukkur initially refused to leave the crease, leading to a standoff. The situation escalated further when Talha Jubair entered the field and engaged in a prolonged discussion with the match referee, causing an additional delay. The confusion deepened when on-field umpire Ishtiak Ahmed Nadim, uncertain of the decision, appeared to seek the third umpire's input but declared Shukkur out before any third umpire intervention.

Talha Jubair confirmed the incident to The Business Standard, stating: "When the umpire referred it to the third umpire, it clearly showed he had doubts. And when there's doubt, the benefit should always go to the batter. The match referee informed us before the game that the third-umpire equipment hadn't arrived yet, and both teams were aware of it. Had the umpire directly given the run-out, we wouldn't have objected, as the umpire's call is final."

Jubair also pointed out a previous incident in the match, saying: "Even Nazmul Apu's dismissal, which was an lbw off an inside edge, did not draw a reaction from us because we respect the umpire's decision. But this situation was different—it created confusion and controversy."

Reflecting on the fines, Talha added, "In the heat of the moment, I said a lot of things because the umpires weren't making sense. But since we won the match, the fine isn't too big of a deal."

The controversy intensified when it was revealed that there was no third umpire for the match, despite Kamruzzaman Limon being listed as the third umpire in the BCB's match centre app. Both teams were reportedly aware of this before the match, yet the miscommunication led to a nearly 30-minute suspension of play.

The match eventually resumed, and Prime Bank managed to secure a three-wicket win, largely thanks to Shamim Hossain Patwari's batting performance. However, the aftermath of the incident saw Talha Jubair, Irfan Shukkur, and Deb Chowdhury fined for their roles in the dispute by CCDM. As the involved trio accepted the allegations there weren't any need for a hearing. Additionally, Shukkur's three new demerit points, added to his existing point, brought his total to four, resulting in his suspension from the next match.