A shocking incident unfolded during a four-day match between the Bangladesh Emerging Team and the South Africa Emerging Team in Dhaka on May 28, 2025, as players Ripon Mondol (Bangladesh) and Tshepo Ntuli (South Africa) engaged in a physical fight mid-pitch. The brawl, which has since gone viral, has drawn widespread condemnation and is expected to result in strict disciplinary action from cricket authorities.
The altercation occurred on Day 3 of the match during Bangladesh’s innings. In the 105th over, Bangladesh batter Ripon Mondol hit South African bowler Tshepo Ntuli for a six. This immediately led to a heated confrontation between the two players. A viral video shows Ntuli pushing Mondol, who in turn tried to push him away. The situation escalated when Ntuli reportedly grabbed Mondol’s helmet and repeatedly pulled it.
On-field umpires quickly intervened to separate the players, with other teammates also rushing to de-escalate the situation. Despite the initial separation, tensions remained high. Reports indicate that some South African players also moved towards Mondol during the scuffle, though none explicitly attempted to restrain Ntuli.
Commentators present during the match expressed their shock, calling the incident “extreme” and “unacceptable,” noting that while verbal altercations are somewhat common, physical fights are rare in cricket.
While no immediate action was taken on the field, match officials are expected to submit a detailed report on the incident. This report will then be forwarded to both the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) for review. Both boards are anticipated to take stringent disciplinary measures, which could include suspensions or lengthy bans for the players involved.
This incident is not the first instance of disciplinary issues during this tour. Earlier, in the one-day series between the two emerging teams, players Andile Simelane (South Africa) and Jishan Alam (Bangladesh) were suspended after trouble during a match. The current four-day series remains level, with the first match having ended in a draw.
