BANGLADESH

Bangladesh have demanded deduction of five runs from Pakistan's total score of Thursday's Asia Cup final for 'deliberate' obstruction by a Pakistani bowler to Mahmudullah in the last over of the match.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) operations committee chairman Enayet Hossain Siraj on Saturday told bdnews24.com that they have appealed to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the International Cricket Council for review of the act of Pakistani bowler Aizaz Cheema.

"The appeal was made at a meeting with ACC," he said.

Current BCB chief A H M Mustafa Kamal is also ACC head, while former Bangladesh cricket player Syed Ashraful Haque is the organisation's chief executive.

The ACC has taken the plea into cognisance.

In case Pakistan get the five-run penalty or Bangladesh get five runs added to their score, Tigers could be the new Asia Cup champions.

Pakistan won by two runs after Bangladesh could score only six runs from the final over bowled by Aizaz Cheema.

BCB made the appeal to the top Asian cricket body alleging Cheema had deliberately blocked batsman Mahmudullah in the final over which they believe cost them the game.

He said, "Though the umpire had warned Cheema during the game, Bangladesh is not satisfied."

"We have seen video footage of the incident several times. It is clear that Cheema blocked Mahmudullah deliberately," Siraj added.

A never-say-die Bangladesh had lost agonisingly by two runs in a nail-biting thriller to hand Pakistan their second Asia Cup on Thursday.

Pakistan had batted first and scored 236 losing 10 wickets in the final match while chasing 237 to win, Bangladesh scored 234 for the loss of eight wickets in 50 overs.

The BCB appeal is in line with Section-42 (5) of the ICC's playing conditions.