T20 World Cup 2022: Nurul Hasan accuses Virat Kohli of fake fielding

The 2022 T20 World Cup witnessed another thrilling encounter as India edged past Bangladesh in a tense finale. But India's win in a rain-marred affair has sparked a few controversies as Bangladeshi cricketer Nurul Hasan accused former Indian skipper Virat Kohli of 'fake fielding' during the second innings of the match.

Bangladesh was in control of the chase before the rain intervened after a breathtaking start by Litton Das. While several questions were raised about the hastened start to the game after the rain delay, Bangladeshi cricketer Nurul Hasan highlighted an incident of unlawful conduct by Virat Kohli.

The aforementioned incident took place in the seventh over of the second innings, when Virat Kohli seemed to mimic a throwing action despite not being in contact with the ball. 

"Certainly, the field was wet and it had an impact and everyone saw that and eventually, what I felt is that when we were talking there was a fake throw and it could have been a five-run penalty and that could have gone our way, but unfortunately, even that didn't come," Hasan remarked as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Law 41.5.1 states: "It is unfair for any fielder wilfully to attempt, by word or action, to distract, deceive or obstruct either batsman after the striker has received the ball."#T20WorldCup | #BANvIND pic.twitter.com/Ej8XRAqrHo

— KAZI TAJKIR HOSSEN (@TajkirHossen14) November 2, 2022

Bangladesh would have been awarded five penalty runs if the umpires had intervened

The comments weren't unfair as the Marylebone Cricket Club's (MCC) Law 41.5, which pertains to unfair play, prohibits the "deliberate distraction, deception or obstruction of [the] batter." If the umpires had deemed the incident a breach of the law, then the ball would have been called dead and the batting team would have been awarded five penalty runs.

The incident could have proved decisive in the match had the Bangladeshi team been awarded the five penalty runs, as they eventually lost the match by the same margin. The umpire's decision to rush back onto the field after the lengthy rain delay did not go down well with the Bangladeshi fans as their star batter Litton Das succumbed to a run out after the resumption of play.