Dhaka Premier League 2021: Sabbir Rahman hurls racist slurs, throws brick at Elias Sunny

The controversies in the Dhaka Premier League 2021 seems not coming to halt any time soon as Sabbir Rahman is now under the scanner for serious indiscipline during round 10 of the league in a match between Old DOHS Sports Club and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club at BKSP-3.

Rahman’s team, Legends of Rupganj, had arrived at the venue, Partex Sporting Club on Wednesday morning. The 29-year-old, who was not a part of the fixture, allegedly threw a brick at Sheikh Jamal spinner Elias Sunny while he was fielding at deep square leg.

He even hurled racist slurs at Elias. Rahman’s actions come at a time when the entire cricketing community is making efforts to make the game more sensitive towards the evils of racism and discrimination. The fraternity has not limited itself to the incidents that happen inside the game, with many international teams taking a knee as a supporting gesture towards the Black Lives Matter campaign.

Meanwhile, after the conclusion of the DPL fixture, Sheikh Jamal wrote to the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM) seeking Sabbir’s punishment over the case.

“With heavy disappointment, we inform you that, on June 16, 2021, during a match between Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Limited and Old DOHS Sports Club at the BKSP-3, Legends of Rupganj player Sabbir Rahman Rumman threw a brick at Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Limited player Elias Sunny outside from the ground without any reason,” the letter read.

“He used abusive language in a racist manner saying, “Oi black, black, Elias”. Him being a professional cricketer, such behaviour is not only indecent but also punishable. In this situation, we request you to take disciplinary action against Sabbir Rahman.”

Sabbir Rahman’s controversial past

This was not the first time when Rahman created any controversy. He had to serve a six-month when he assaulted a fan in a first-class match in December 2017. The next year, in 2018, the cricketer was handed another ban for six months from international cricket after he abused a fan on social media. While last year, he was accused of slapping a cleaner.

While he represented the nation in the 2019 World Cup held in England, he was in the limelight for all the wrong reasons that year for getting involved in a verbal fight with his Bangladesh teammate Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

The DPL 2021 edition, meanwhile, has been in the news for the worst of reasons with Shakib Al Hasan’s recent on-field outburst against the umpires.