Veteran Bangladeshi wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim had recently grabbed headlines for his bizarre dismissal in the second Test against New Zealand. He was given out ‘obstructing the field’, which previously was known as ‘handling the ball’.
While batting in the Bangladesh 1st innings, Rahim played a defensive shot on the 4th ball of the 41st over bowled by Kyle Jamieson. The ball bounced near his feet and Rahim used his hands to steer the ball away while standing around the stumps.
New Zealand players appealed and the on-field umpires sent the matter to the TV umpire. After watching the replay, the TV umpire deemed Mushfiqur Rahim out as ‘obstructing the field’. The dismissal was previously known as ‘handling the ball’, but the ICC merged it with ‘obstructing the field’ in 2017.
After the incident, a Bangladesh channel - Ekattor TV - on December 6 accused that the dismissal may have been linked to spot-fixing, according to a report in Cricbuzz. Later, the channel removed the news from its digital platform and apologized to Mushfiqur Rahim.
But Rahim has now served a legal notice to Ekattor TV for defaming him with the report. Supreme Court lawyer Shihab Uddin Khan, representing Mushfiqur, issued the legal notice to Ekattor TV contending that the allegation and innuendo contained in the report as false and baseless and represented a shameful instance of yellow journalism and the publication of fake news.
It is argued that the aforementioned report shows no regard or respect for the bare minimum standards of journalistic ethics, with no regard for the ramifications on our client's reputation as well as his livelihood as a professional cricketer, to not only his prejudice but also to the detriment of his dependent family members.
"The news report has left Mr. Mushfiqur Rahim mentally shattered, who can hardly believe that a news channel, as reputed and esteemed like Ekattor TV can resort to such a vile instance of yellow journalism without considering its far-reaching purport. It is claimed that the report and its publication in the manner aforesaid, where it has been seen, accessed, and downloaded by countless millions throughout Bangladesh and the rest of the world, has lowered our client in the eyes and estimation of right-thinking people and therefore constitutes criminal defamation punishable under Section 500 of the Penal Code, 1860 and cyber-bullying contrary to Sections 25(1)(Ka), 25(2) and 29 of the Cyber Security Act, 2023, besides entitling our client to proceed against you for exemplary damages as compensation by instituting civil legal action," it was stated in the legal notice.
The Legal Notice was served upon the Head of News, the Sports Editor, and Mr. Saiful Rupak, the concerned reporter of Ekattor Television. Supreme Court Lawyer Barrister Shihab Uddin Khan sent the legal notice through email on behalf of Mushfiqur Rahim.
(Cricbuzz inputs)
