The Premier Division Hockey League title will be decided by a play-off after defending champions Mariner Youngs Club and Abahani Limited both finished on equal 37 points from 15 games after the final day鈥檚 matches at the Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium on Friday.
In the day鈥檚 two Super-Six games, Mariner defeated Police Sporting Club 4-2, while Abahani were proclaimed winners against arch-rivals Mohammedan Sporting Club after the latter declined to play while leading 3-2 after 43 minutes.
Tempers flared between the two teams after the umpire gave yellow cards to Abahani鈥檚 Affan Yousuf and Mohammedan鈥檚 Zul Bin Mizun.聽
Then the referee showed Mohammedan鈥檚 Din Islam Emon and Tanvir Rahman Siam and Abahani鈥檚 Naim Uddin red cards.
Mohammedan at one point left the pitch and stayed at the dugout before refusing to play the remaining time.
The umpire waited half an hour for Mohammedan to return to the field before declaring Abahani the winners.
According to the bylaws of the competition, the championship will now be decided in a play-off, and the schedule has yet to be finalised.
鈥榃e will send letters to the two clubs [Abahani and Mariner], as per bylaws. We will inform them of the play-off schedule through letters,鈥� BHF general secretary AKM Mominul Haque Shaeed told the media after Friday鈥檚 matches.
In the game, Abahani went up with Affan Yousuf scoring from the penalty corner in the third minute, before Puskar Kisha Mimo doubled the margin in the 25th minute, also from a penalty corner.
Mohammedan鈥檚 Malaysian recruit, Faizal Bin Sarri, scored all the goals.
In the first game, Police SC鈥檚 Indian duo Gurjot Singh (first) scored from the penalty corner before Deepak Patal (27th) scored a field goal.
Mariner鈥檚 Mainul Islam Koushik (22nd and 27th) scored a brace after Indian recruits Deepak (ninth) and Rajinder Singh (19th) scored once each.