Tempers Flare in Dhaka: Bangladesh and South Africa Players Clash in Emerging Test Match

In a heated moment during a four-day developmental cricket match in Dhaka on May 28, 2025, players from the Bangladesh Emerging and South Africa Emerging teams engaged in a physical altercation, casting a shadow over the game. The incident occurred during the 104th over of Bangladesh’s innings at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, involving Bangladesh’s Ripon Mondal and South Africa’s Tshepo Ntuli.

The confrontation began after Mondal hit a six off Ntuli’s bowling. According to reports from ESPN Cricinfo, Ntuli approached Mondal aggressively, leading to a heated exchange of words and physical shoving. At one point, Ntuli grabbed Mondal’s helmet, escalating tensions further. Umpires and fellow players quickly intervened to defuse the situation, but not before the incident drew sharp criticism from commentators. “This is extreme, this is unacceptable. We don’t often see a scuffle like this on a cricket field,” an ESPN Cricinfo commentator remarked, as quoted by the outlet.

Three balls later, Mondal fended off a delivery from Ntuli, who threw the ball back at the batter, though Mondal managed to block it with his bat. Salim Shahed, plans to submit a detailed report to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) for further action. Shahed confirmed to Inside Sport India that he would review the umpires’ report before recommending potential disciplinary measures.

This altercation was not an isolated incident in the series. Earlier, during the one-day leg, both teams saw players Andile Simelane of South Africa and Jishan Alam of Bangladesh suspended for one match due to similar conduct issues. The series itself has been competitive, with Bangladesh securing a 2-1 victory in the one-day matches, while the first four-day game ended in a draw. In the ongoing match, Bangladesh posted 371 runs, with Iftakhar Hossain Ifti scoring 109 and Mondal contributing 43. South Africa’s Andile Mokgakane took four wickets, while Ntuli claimed three. At the time of the report, South Africa were at 152/6 in their response.

The incident has raised concerns about player conduct, particularly in a developmental series meant to showcase emerging talent. The BCB and CSA are expected to review the matter and determine appropriate sanctions, as this match marks the final game of the tour.