Four-match ban on Towhid Hridoy has spotlighted Bangladesh cricket's disciplinary difficulties yet again. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced on April 27 that Hridoy, who is leading Mohammedan Sporting Club in the current Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League (DPDCL), will be suspended with immediate effect.

The move comes after repeated breaches of the BCB Code of Conduct, highlighting an issue of concern concerning player behavior and administrative management.

Ongoing Offenses Sully Reputation of Towhid Hridoy

On April 26, during the match between DPDCL and Gazi Group Cricketers at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Towhid Hridoy protested after getting dismissed.

By on-field umpires Moniruzzaman Tinku and Ali Arman Rajon, third umpire Muhammad Kamruzzaman, and fourth official ATM Ikram, Hridoy remained at the crease protesting rather than departing. Even though he was informed in advance, Hridoy missed the disciplinary hearing, prompting the Match Referee Akhtar Ahmad to fine him Taka 10,000 and award an additional demerit point.

Hridoyhad received a one-match suspension, which was subsequently suspended in the face of player opposition.

But the current outburst of his offers no scope for clemency. With eight demerit points carried on his account-seven for prior indiscretions-he now risks automatic suspension of four matches by Clause 5.2.6 of the DPDCL 2024-25 Code of Conduct.

Leniency of BCB In the Dock

The BCB’s initial decision to put off Hridoy’s ban now seems to have boomeranged. Rather than taming indiscipline, it potentially encouraged repeated offences. Questions are now being raised over whether the cricket board’s disciplinary system is stringent enough to uphold the standards warranted at the professional level.

Most former players and commentators feel that sterner, more uniform sanctions are the need of the hour to set a clear-cut example for up-and-coming cricketers.

A Wake-Up Call for Bangladesh Cricket

Hridoy’s suspension not only affects Mohammedan Sporting Club’s campaign but also serves as a stern warning across the domestic cricketing scene. As Bangladesh hopes for more on the international front, professionalism, discipline, and respect for the officials must become the non-negotiable norms. The BCB needs to make sure the players know what the consequences are of misconduct if it wants to establish a sustainable and respected culture of cricket.