Ritshi Choden has become the first woman to be timed out in international cricket, but the landmark moment came during an unfortunate spell in Bhutan’s chase against Nepal in the ACC Premier Cup held in Malaysia. The incident, which happened immediately after opener Ngawang Choden’s early dismissal, triggered a Nepal appeal and an on-field decision that left Bhutan reeling at the very start of their run chase.
After Ngawang Choden was sent back on the first ball, Ritshi Choden walked in and took over 90 seconds to reach the crease. Under the Laws of Cricket, a batter must be prepared to face within the allotted window. Nepal’s side appealed, and the umpires upheld the call, ruling that Choden had exceeded the time limit.
Choden arrived with her helmet and gloves and then spoke briefly with the umpire before being informed she was out. She did not argue the decision or carry out a prolonged protest, and she left the field promptly. The dismissal meant Bhutan were reduced to 0 for 2 after just a single delivery in the chase.
Even though the ruling followed the laws, Nepal’s cricket leadership later issued an apology. The board said the episode did not align with the principles it wants to promote in the women’s game.
“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,” CAN said in its statement.
The board added: “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.”
The early blow proved decisive for Bhutan. Their chase never gained traction against the target of 114, and they ultimately suffered a defeat by 51 runs.
With the win, Nepal moved to the top of Group D after recording two victories from two matches. Bhutan, meanwhile, remained winless after two games.
