The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has issued a clarification on the ‘obstructing the field’ law following the controversial dismissal of Angkrish Raghuvanshi during an Indian Premier League match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants.
Raghuvanshi was given out in the fifth over of KKR’s innings after being adjudged to have obstructed the field, a decision that sparked widespread debate. The batter later showed his frustration on the field, resulting in a fine and demerit point for a Level 1 offence under the IPL Code of Conduct.
In its clarification, the MCC cited Law 37.1.1, which states that a batter is out if they “wilfully attempt to obstruct or distract the fielding side by word or action,” emphasising that intent is the key factor in such decisions.
According to the MCC, Raghuvanshi’s actions met the criteria for a deliberate obstruction. “When he sets off for his run, he is on the off side of the wicket. As the ball reaches the fielder, he crosses to the middle of the pitch… putting himself between the ball and the wicket. This is, by definition, a wilful act,” the MCC explained.
The governing body added that had the batter remained on his original running line or taken a more direct route, the incident may not have been deemed obstruction. It stressed that the act of changing direction across the pitch played a decisive role in the dismissal.
Addressing another point of contention, the MCC clarified that whether the batter would have been run out is irrelevant under this law. “Provided the obstruction does not prevent a catch being taken, whether a dismissal was likely is not a criterion,” it stated.
