Nepal Cricket Association (CAN) has issued a public apology to Bhutan Cricket and fans following the controversial time-out during the ACC Women's Premier Cup match between Nepal and Bhutan in Malaysia.
After this incident, Bhutan's batsman Ritshi Choden became the first player to be timed out in women's international cricket. The dismissal occurred during Bhutan's chase of 114 when Choden failed to reach the crease within the stipulated time after the fall of the first wicket.
The drama started on the very first ball of Bhutan's innings. Opener Ngawang Choden was dismissed for a golden duck, leaving Choden at the crease. However, it took more than 90 seconds for the incoming batsman to get out. Walking with his helmet and gloves in hand, Choden was seen talking to the square-leg umpire before the Nepal players appealed for a time-out.
The appeal was upheld by on-field umpires Sun Meng Yao and Ankita Guha. Nepal's players celebrated the decision, while Choden accepted the decision and withdrew without any apparent protest, leaving Bhutan at 0/2 after only one delivery.
After the match, CAN issued an official statement expressing regret over the incident and acknowledging the criticism surrounding the dismissal.
“The incident of timely dismissal of a Bhutanese batsman during today's match does not reflect the values and spirit of cricket which the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) strives to uphold,” CAN said.
“On behalf of the Nepal Cricket Association, we sincerely apologize for the actions of our women's national team in this matter. Although the dismissal was made under the Laws of Cricket, we believe that the spirit of the game goes beyond the written laws and must remain at the heart of our conduct at all times.”
The governing body reiterated its commitment to sportsmanship and fair play and described the incident as falling short of its standards.
“As a developing cricket nation, we highly value sportsmanship, mutual respect and fair play. We acknowledge that this incident fell short of those standards and we regret any disappointment it has caused.”
The note concluded, “We sincerely apologize to Bhutan Cricket, the player concerned and all relevant stakeholders. CAN is strongly committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and the spirit of cricket on and off the field.”
Despite the controversy, Nepal won brilliantly by 51 runs bhutan. Chasing 114, Bhutan struggled to recover from the early setbacks. The win helped Nepal top Group D with two wins from two matches, while Bhutan remained without a win after the opening two fixtures of the tournament.
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