Ritshi Choden First Woman Timed Out in Cricket

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Ritshi Choden became the first woman cricketer dismissed timed out in international cricket during an ACC T20I match in Malaysia. Nepal’s appeal sparked a sportsmanship debate, with CAN issuing an apology.

On June 4, Bhutan’s Ritshi Choden made history by becoming the first woman cricketer ever dismissed “timed out” in international cricket. This rare event happened during an Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Women’s T20I Premier Cup match in Malaysia. Nepal’s team appealed for the wicket after Choden failed to be ready to bat within the 90-second time limit. While the move followed official rules, it sparked a major debate about sportsmanship. ### Historic Timed Out Incident in Malaysia The controversial moment happened at the start of Bhutan’s innings at the Kolej Tuanku Jaafar (KTJ) Oval in Mantin. Nepal had set a target of 114 runs. Bhutan’s chase began with immediate trouble. Nepal’s bowler, Kabita Kunwar, yorked Bhutanese opener Ngawang Choden with the very first ball. Following the wicket, Ritshi Choden walked out to the pitch at number three. But she looked unprepared. She arrived at the crease still carrying her helmet and gloves. She spent time putting on her gear instead of being ready to face the bowler. Nepal’s players, including wicketkeeper Rubi Poddar, noticed the delay and appealed to the umpires for a “timed out” dismissal. The umpires, Sun Meng Yao and Ankita Guha, checked the time and upheld the appeal. Ritshi Choden had to leave without facing a single ball. Bhutan had zero runs for two wickets after just one ball of the first over. Cricket Ireland shared their thoughts on social media, saying it’s absolutely wrong for women to be timed out for taking more than 90 seconds after a wicket falls. ### Nepal Cricket Board Issues Sincere Apology Although the dismissal was legal under the Laws of Cricket, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) decided to apologize. Many fans and experts felt the appeal went against the spirit of cricket. CAN released a formal statement on social media shortly after the match. CAN Secretary and former player Paras Khadka signed the apology. The statement explained that the incident didn’t reflect the values and sportsmanship CAN wants to uphold. CAN extended regrets to Bhutan Cricket, the player involved, and all cricket supporters. ### Understanding the Timed Out Rule in T20 Cricket According to the rule, a batter coming in has a certain time after a wicket falls. In T20I games, the limit is 90 seconds. If the batter takes longer, the fielding team can appeal. In other formats, like Test matches and One Day Internationals (ODIs), the limit is three minutes. Bhutan captain Anju Gurung later explained that her team tried to change the batting order at the last second. Unfortunately, the message didn’t reach Ritshi Choden in time, causing her to be late to the crease. ### Match Results and Group Standings After the timed out dismissal, Bhutan struggled to recover from losing two wickets so early. They finished their 20 overs with 62-8. Only opener Dechen Wangmo finished not out with 39 runs from 60 balls. Nepal won by 51 runs. Earlier, Sita Rana Magar top-scored for Nepal with 37 runs. Rubina Chhetry added 24 runs to help Nepal reach 113. This was Nepal’s second straight win in Group D. ### Why This Matters This incident raises important questions about fairness and the spirit of the game. While rules are rules, many argue that cricket should prioritize sportsmanship over technicalities. For Ritshi Choden, it’s a tough lesson, but one that will be remembered in cricket history. - Key takeaway: Always be ready when you’re next in. - Quote from CAN: “This does not reflect the values we stand for.” The debate continues, but one thing is clear: this moment changed women’s cricket forever.

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