The case of time out dismissal has been reported for the first time in women’s cricket. Bhutan’s Ritshi Choden became the first batter to be dismissed on ‘timed out’ in women’s international cricket. Choden took more than 90 seconds to reach the crease in the T20I match against Nepal, after which umpires Sun Meng Yao and Ankita Guha upheld the fielders’ appeal. However, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) apologized for the decision and said that while the dismissal was within the rules, it was not in accordance with the spirit of the game.
The incident occurred on the very first ball of the chase during the ACC Premier Cup in Mantin, Malaysia. Opener Nawang Choden was out for a golden duck, and Choden, who came in to bat after her, was apparently unprepared. Choden came running in with gloves and a helmet in hand and spoke to the square-leg umpire. Meanwhile, when Choden came to the crease, the fielders gathered around her and raised their hands. Nepal’s batsman, Puja Mahato, ran to speak to the umpire and began celebrating. The umpire then informed Choden that she was out, and she returned without protest.
Cricket Association of Nepal apologized
In its statement, the Cricket Association of Nepal said, “The incident involving the timed-out dismissal of a Bhutanese batter during today’s match does not reflect the values and spirit of cricket that the Cricket Association of Nepal strives to uphold. On behalf of the Cricket Association of Nepal, we extend our sincere apologies for the actions of our Women’s National Team in this matter. While the dismissal was effected within the Laws of Cricket, we recognise that the spirit of the game extends beyond the written laws and must remain central to our conduct at all times.
“As a developing cricketing nation, we place the utmost importance on sportsmanship, mutual respect, and fair play. We acknowledge that this incident has fallen short of those standards and regret any disappointment it may have caused. We convey our sincere apologies to Bhutan Cricket, the player concerned, and all relevant stakeholders. CAN remains firmly committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and the spirit of cricket, both on and off the field.”
