Global T20 Canada 2024: Shakib Al Hasan’s Bangla Tigers Mississauga gets eliminated after opting not to participate in Super Over

Shakib Al Hasan. (Source – Global T20)

Shakib Al Hasan, no stranger to controversy, found himself entangled in yet another incident during the Eliminator of the Global T20 Canada 2024. The clash between the Bangla Tigers Mississauga and the Toronto Nationals only added to his growing list of contentious moments he has been a constituent of.

The CAA Centre in Brampton, the venue for the match, was beset by relentless torrential rain for hours, leaving players, particularly those of the Toronto Nationals, anxiously awaiting a chance to play. With their survival in the tournament hanging by a thread, which would have led to their elimination had the match been abandoned, they remained hopeful.

As the clock edged closer to the cut-off time, match officials, adhering to the playing regulations, determined that only a Super Over would be feasible and relayed this decision to both teams. However, in a surprising turn of events, Shakib Al Hasan, captain of the Bangla Tigers, refused to appear for the toss in protest.

The owner of the Bangla Tigers, Zafir Yasin, voiced his dissatisfaction, arguing that “at least a five or ten-over-a-side game” should have been played to determine the team advancing, rather than relying on a mere Super Over. In response, the CEO of the competition, Joy Bhattacharjya, clarified that the decision to resolve the match with a Super Over was entirely in accordance with the established rules.

Earlier in the day, attempts to conduct a Super Over for Qualifier 1 between the Brampton Wolves and the Montreal Tigers at the same venue were thwarted due to persistent rain and unfavorable ground conditions. Consequently, the Tigers advanced to the final based on their position at the top of the table (one point more than the Wolves). Bhattacharjya further emphasized his stance, providing a clear explanation as to why a Super Over was proposed to determine the outcome of the Eliminator, in contrast to the earlier match of the day.

“It’s not like the Super Over provision was brought in for just the game involving the Bangla Tigers. It was in place for both the games [Qualifier 1 and Eliminator]. It’s just that it wasn’t possible for the first game, and because the second game happened much later in the day, there was a little more time for the ground staff to work on the outfield,” added Bhattacharjya.

“At the time of the toss, the Toronto Nationals captain was present, but the Bangla Tigers team refused to appear. The match referee explained the plausible consequences of the said action to the captain [Shakib Al Hasan] and thereafter, the umpire subsequently awarded the match to the Toronto Nationals,” read an official statement put out by the GLT20.