DPL 2021: Bangladesh umpire quits after Mahmudullah and Shakib Al Hasan outbursts, says ‘enough is enough’

A Bangladeshi umpire has decided to quit his profession and step away from the game after being involved in a controversial incident also involving Mahmudullah in the Dhaka Premier League T20 tournament earlier this month.

Moniruzzaman was the TV umpire in the match between Gazi Group Cricketers and Prime Bank in which Mahmudullah’s antics dominated the headlines after a decision went against him.

The Gazi Group captain lost his cool when the on-field umpire turned down his appeal for a caught-behind against Prime Bank batsman Alok Kapali. He showed dissent at the umpire’s decision by punching the ground and laying down on the adjacent pitch as a sign of protest. The Bangladesh all-rounder was fined Taka 20,000 by the country’s cricket board, as a result.

The incident took place after Shakib Al Hasan’s shameful outburst which led to a ban and a fine for the former Bangladesh captain.

Shakib was caught on camera, kicking the stumps, knocking the bails off and aggressively arguing with the on-field umpire a couple of times after a few decisions went against him during the DPL match between Mohammedan Sporting Club and Abahani Limited.

His behaviour led to a 3-match ban along with a fine of Bangladesh Taka 5 lacs for his level-3 offence during the Mohammedan vs Abahani match in the Dhaka Premier League.

Such incidents have forced a dejected Moniruzzaman, who is a part of Bangladesh’s ICC Emerging Panel, to quit umpiring from all cricket.

“Enough is enough for me and I don’t want to do umpiring anymore. I have some self-respect and want to live with it.

“Umpires can make mistakes but if we are treated in this manner, there is no point in doing it anymore because I am not in it just for the money.

“I was not involved in Shakib’s game. The way he behaved was something very hard for me to digest. In the Mahmudullah match I was the TV umpire and watching the episode closely. It left me numb and at that point, I decided not to carry on with umpiring,” Moniruzzaman told Cricbuzz.

Moniruzzaman is not employed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board therefore, doesn’t owe any explanation behind his decision to the board.

“I am fortunate nothing untoward happened with me so far but who knows I might be a subject of humiliation in the next game and I don’t want to lose my sleep thinking what will happen tomorrow in the match,” Moniruzzaman said.