Fact Check: Did Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Really Decline To Play Under Female Umpire Shathira Jakir In Dhaka Premier League?

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Recent rumours suggesting that Bangladesh cricketers Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah objected to playing under female umpire Shathira Jakir Jessy in a Dhaka Premier League match have been debunked.

The claims arose during a match between Mohammedan and Prime Bank on April 25, but interviews with those involved reveal that the allegations were unfounded. Mykhel takes a look at the incident while taking into account details provided by esteemed local media.

As per leading daily Prothom Alo, no objections were raised before or during the match regarding umpire Shathira Jakir Jessy, who joined the ICC's umpire panel in March 2023. Both players and their respective clubs have publicly supported Jessy, expressing satisfaction with her officiating.

Mushfiqur Rahim clarified his stance in a statement to Prothom Alo, stating, "Neither I nor any of our players have raised any questions or objections. I am rather delighted to see that a woman umpire has come this far and become an ICC panel umpire from our country. I also congratulated her for this."

He suggested that the concerns were about the umpire's debut in a high-stakes match, not her gender, noting, "Even if a male umpire had debuted in this match, the question would have arisen."

Mahmudullah echoed these sentiments, adding, "After the match, I congratulated her even more! I said, 'Very good umpiring'. We are not people to do such things." He expressed frustration over the misrepresentation, emphasising the damage such rumours do to the image of Bangladesh cricket.

The clubs involved, Prime Bank and Mohammedan, also refuted the claims. Prime Bank released a statement affirming their commitment to progress and respect for all individuals, regardless of gender. They stated, "The allegation that Prime Bank Cricket Club did not want to play matches under a specific umpire in the published news is completely baseless."

Mohammedan's club official, Tariqul Islam, reinforced this, stating, "We have not said that we will not play under a female umpire. Mohammedan did not complain to anyone in this regard. It's all fake."

Umpire Shathira Jakir herself confirmed that there were no direct objections to her officiating due to her gender. She acknowledged the initial surprise at her assignment due to her lack of Premier League experience but noted that the players, including Mahmudullah, praised her performance post-match.

The controversy appears to have been sparked by a statement from BCB umpires committee head Iftekhar Ahmed, who initially claimed the clubs were unhappy with the appointment of a female umpire. However, he later admitted that there were no official complaints from the cricketers and that they had praised Jessy after the game.

CCDM chief Mohammad Salah Uddin Chowdhury and other officials have confirmed that no official complaints were made, casting further doubt on the origins of these rumors.

In summary, the controversy surrounding the alleged objections to umpire Shathira Jakir Jessy's appointment in the Dhaka Premier League seems to be based on miscommunications rather than any real opposition from the players or clubs involved.