Controversy could have erupted during the Women’s Asia Cup semifinal between India and Bangladesh had Deepti Sharma appealed for an obstructing-the-field dismissal.

India batted first and posted 149-6 on the board, with Shafali Verma top-scoring, making 64 off 40 balls. In reply, Bangladesh got off to a steady start, reaching 40-2 after nine overs, with captain Nigar Sultana and Sobhana Mostary at the crease.

Deepti Sharma, who had bowled one over for four runs, came on to bowl the 10th and conceded three runs from her first three balls. Sultana swept Deepti for four next up before attempting another reverse sweep. However, she played it awkwardly with the back of the bat, sending the ball back towards Deepti, who picked it up and threw it towards the stumps at the striker’s end.

Sultana was seemingly not pleased with the throw and tried to stop the ball with a raised leg. She then turned to Deepti animatedly, questioning the throw. The India all-rounder, however, had not thrown the ball aimlessly – Sultana was out of her crease when Deepti threw up the ball, but Sultana’s action in trying to stop the throw brought up a debate over whether she should have been given out obstructing the field.

Nigar Sultana would have been given out had India appealed

According to MCC’s Law 37.1.1, either batter is out obstructing the field if “while the ball is in play, he/she wilfully attempts to obstruct or distract the fielding side by word or action.”

However, India did not appeal for the dismissal, which would have seen Sultana become the fourth woman from a Full Member side to be out obstructing the field.

Image courtesy: SonySportsNetwork/Instagram

Follow Wisden for all cricket updates, including live scores, match stats, quizzes and more. Stay up to date with the latest cricket news, player updates, team standings, match highlights, video analysis and live match odds.

Related tags:

Cover StoriesTrending StoriesCover Stories AsiaCover Stories IndiaSeries Cover Stories