Bhutan's Ritshi Choden ruled out in historic timed-out dismissal in 2026

Bhutan's Ritshi Choden became the first female cricketer to be dismissed as timed out during a match against Nepal in Malaysia.

First ball drama unfolds The unusual dismissal occurred right at the start of Bhutan’s innings during the ACC Premier Cup in Mantin, Malaysia. Bhutan’s opening batter Ngawang Choden was dismissed for a golden duck in the very first delivery. Choden, who was next in to bat, appeared unprepared as she entered the field holding her gloves and helmet. She briefly stopped to speak with the square-leg umpire before play resumed. ## Fielders react and umpire intervenes As Choden approached the crease, the Nepalese fielding side gathered and raised their arms in unison. Nepal’s batter Puja Mahato crossed the pitch to speak with the umpire, leading to immediate celebrations. The umpire then informed Choden of her dismissal, and she left the field without any objection. This left Bhutan at 0 for 2 after just one ball had been bowled in the match. ## Nepal expresses regret over incident Following the game, the Cricket Association of Nepal issued an official apology to Bhutan Cricket and the player involved for the incident. A press release stated that the timed-out dismissal did not align with the values of cricket that the association aims to promote. The statement emphasized that while the dismissal followed the Laws of Cricket, it failed to uphold the spirit of the game. CAN reiterated its commitment to sportsmanship, mutual respect, and fair play in all cricketing activities. ## Official statement from Cricket Association of Nepal The association released a formal message addressing the incident. It read, "The incident involving the timed-out dismissal of a Bhutanese batter during today's match does not reflect the values and spirit of cricket that the Cricket Association of Nepal strives to uphold." CAN extended its sincere apologies to Bhutan Cricket, the player concerned, and all stakeholders involved. The statement acknowledged that the incident did not meet the expected standards and expressed regret for any disappointment caused. ## Match result and group standings Bhutan’s innings never gained momentum after the early dismissal, and they were bowled out for a total well short of the target. Nepal won the match by 51 runs, successfully chasing a target of 114. The victory placed Nepal at the top of Group D with two wins from two games. Bhutan, on the other hand, remained in third place with no wins after two matches played in the tournament.