Abahani Limited played out a 2-2 draw with arch-rivals Mohammedan Sporting Club in their fifth Green Delta Insurance Premier Hockey League match amid controversy at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium on Sunday. The match was halted for almost 20 minutes just three minutes before the last whistle over an umpiring decision. Singaporean umpire Hari Sharan initially blew whistle for a penalty corner for Mohammedan but he later altered his decision after consulting with fellow umpire from Hong Kong Khaled Hossain as Abahani players protested the initial decision.
Mohammedan, however, protested the changed decision and refrained from play before Bangladesh Hockey Federation general secretary Abdus Sadeque convinced them to resume the game.
But no goal was scored in the remaining minutes and the match ended on a stalemate.
Mohammedan took the lead in the ninth minute when their Pakistani midfielder Tasvar Abbas found the back of the net from a penalty corner.
The lead sustained only four minutes as Abahani’s Pakistani recruit Toushique Arshad converted the penalty corner to level the margin in the 15th minute.
Abahani’s Pakistani player Shafqat Rassol put them ahead in the 28th minute with a brilliant field goal following a neat long ball from his compatriot Mohammed Irfan from almost halfway.
Mohammedan restored the parity in the 48th minute, thanks to Tasvar, who found his second of the day with a brilliant strike from a penalty corner of Salman Hossain.
After scoring the equaliser MSC pressed hard but they could not break the deadlock.
Abahani, the joint defending champions, have now suffered back to back draw that put them in the third position of the points table with 11 points from five matches, four points behind table toppers Usha Krira Chakra.
Mohammedan, on the other hand, lost their first points after four successive victories and stuck on the second position with 13 points from five matches.
-With New Age input