Bhutan’s Ritshi Choden becomes first women cricketer to be timed out

An Unprecedented Event in International Cricket

The landscape of international women’s cricket witnessed a historic and highly debated moment during a T20I match in Malaysia. In a dramatic turn of events, Bhutan’s Ritshi Choden becomes first women cricketer to be timed out, marking the first time this rare dismissal has occurred in the history of women’s international cricket. The incident, which took place during the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Women’s Premier Cup in Mantin, Malaysia, has immediately ignited conversations across the global cricketing community regarding the strict enforcement of playing conditions versus the traditional “spirit of the game.”

The Sequence of Events: How the Incident Occurred

The match, a Group D clash between Bhutan and Nepal, saw a dramatic start to the second innings. Bhutan was set a target of 114 runs to win. However, their chase got off to the worst possible start on the very first ball. Bhutan’s opening batter, Ngawang Choden, was dismissed for a golden duck, immediately putting the team under immense pressure.

What followed next stunned players and spectators alike. Ritshi Choden, slated to bat at number three, was seemingly unprepared for her immediate entry. As she walked toward the middle, she was seen jogging with her batting gloves and helmet still in her hands rather than wearing them. Before reaching her final position at the crease, Choden paused to have a brief conversation with the square-leg umpire.

According to the match officials, Choden took more than the permitted 90 seconds to arrive at the crease and be ready to face the delivery. Seizing the opportunity, the Nepal fielders quickly converged on the pitch. Realizing the time delay, they raised their arms to appeal for a timed-out dismissal.

The Appeal and Umpire Decision

The appeal was led by Nepal player Puja Mahato, who ran across to speak with the match officials and initiated the team’s celebrations. The on-field umpires for the fixture, Sun Meng Yao and Ankita Guha, evaluated the situation and upheld the appeal made by the fielding side.

Upon being informed by the umpire that she had been ruled out under the timed-out law, Ritshi Choden accepted the decision and walked back to the dugout without raising any visible protest. This unprecedented dismissal left Bhutan in an incredibly difficult position, reeling at 0 runs for the loss of 2 wickets after just a single legal delivery had been bowled in their innings.

Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) Expresses Regret

While the dismissal was completely within the official laws of the sport, the manner of the dismissal drew immediate scrutiny. Recognizing the sensitive nature of the incident, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) took the unusual step of issuing an official public apology shortly after the conclusion of the match.

In a formal press release, CAN extended its apologies to Bhutan Cricket, Ritshi Choden, and all relevant stakeholders. The governing body admitted that while the decision to appeal and enforce the dismissal was legally sound, it did not reflect the core sporting values they aim to promote.

The official statement from CAN read: “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 (CAN) 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 recognize that the spirit of the game extends beyond the written laws and must remain central to our conduct at all times.”

Match Outcome and Group D Standings

The early double blow severely crippled Bhutan’s batting unit. Struggling to recover from being 0 for 2 after one ball, Bhutan’s run chase never gained any momentum. They eventually fell well short of Nepal’s target of 114 runs, losing the match by a margin of 51 runs.

With this victory, Nepal solidified their position at the top of Group D in the ACC Women’s Premier Cup, boasting two wins from their opening two matches. Bhutan, on the other hand, remains at the bottom half of the table, sitting in third place with two losses from their two games played so far in the tournament. This historic match will undoubtedly be remembered not just for the points on the board, but for the rare dismissal that made international cricket history.