Mohammad Rizwan became the flashpoint of a fiery on-field confrontation during the second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. The wicketkeeper-batter and Bangladesh players traded barbs on Day 4, amid Pakistan’s difficult chase of 437 in their second innings. With wickets tumbling around him, Rizwan tried to steady the innings—but the verbal tension around him only intensified.
At a glance
- Match: Pakistan vs Bangladesh, second Test at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium
- When it happened: Day 4, during Pakistan’s 437-run chase
- Key moment: 72nd over, Rizwan complained about movement behind the sightscreen
- Main duel: Rizwan vs Bangladesh wicketkeeper Litton Das, with close-in fielders joining in
- Aftermath: On-field umpires Allahudien Paleker and Richard Kettleborough intervened
- Stump mic highlights: Bangladesh fielders mocked Rizwan, including a “Hera Pheri” line
How the confrontation began
The incident erupted in the 72nd over when Rizwan abruptly stepped away from his batting stance. He appeared to be unhappy with movement behind the bowler’s sightscreen and voiced his concern to the umpires. Pakistan were under pressure, but the batter’s focus shifted briefly to what he believed was a distraction near the boundary line.
Litton Das, who was wicketkeeping at the other end, reacted immediately to the interruption. In the stump mic recordings, the Bangladesh keeper challenged Rizwan with a blunt question: “What are you doing?” Rizwan pointed towards the sightscreen area as he explained the disturbance, but Litton shot back sharply, urging him to concentrate on the ball in front of him.
The exchange turned even more personal as Rizwan questioned who had the right to call out the issue. “Is that your job, mine, or the umpire’s?” he replied, sparking a tense face-off between the two players. What started as a complaint quickly escalated into a heated argument, with both sides refusing to back down.
Matters cooled only after the on-field officials stepped in. Umpires Allahudien Paleker and Richard Kettleborough moved in to calm the situation and separate the players, preventing the confrontation from spiralling further while play continued.
Bangladesh fielders pile on after the warning
Even after the umpires intervened, the mood on the field did not settle completely. Bangladesh’s close-in fielders kept the pressure on Rizwan verbally, and the stump microphones captured their comments clearly. The tone stayed sarcastic, turning the episode into a prolonged exchange rather than a brief flare-up.
In one particularly noticeable jibe, a fielder drew on a well-known dialogue from the Bollywood film Hera Pheri. The line, delivered with mockery, was: “For overacting, we’ll dock 50 paise.” (overacting ke 50 paise katenge)
Other fielders joined in as well, questioning Rizwan’s conduct and accusing him of trying to unsettle Bangladesh’s bowling rhythm. One player remarked, “You are acting well; you want to teach everyone,” (achha acting krra hai, sbko sikha rha ha) as the sledging continued.
There was also a comment suggesting that Rizwan’s position in the side was secure after reaching a fifty, implying the behaviour was intentional. “Now that he has scored a 50, he has cemented his place in the team, that’s why he is doing all this,” (Jagah pkka hai team bhaii jagah pakka isliye aisa krra hai) the fielder was heard saying.
