India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur has come under the scanner for her unruly behaviour on the field during the third Women’s ODI against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Saturday (July 22).
The match, which ended in a tie, witnessed a number of contentious umpiring decisions and the Women in Blue were at the receiving end of those calls.
During the game, Harmanpreet lost her cool and hit the stumps with her bat after being given out LBW. While walking back to the pavilion, she gestured towards the umpire that there was a bat involved and also slammed the officials for ‘pathetic’ decision making in the post-match presentation.
The Indian captain didn’t stop there as she mocked the Bangladesh team during the joint photograph session after the three-match WODI series ended at 1-1.
In a video doing rounds on social media, Harmanpreet can be seen calling the umpires to join in as well, implying them to be part of the Bangladesh team. Offended by the act, Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana asked her players to walk away from the joint photograph session.
A day after the incident, former India cricketer Madan Lal lambasted Kaur’s conduct and urged the BCCI to take strict action against her.
Taking to Twitter, Lal wrote: “Harmanpreet’s behaviour against the Bangladesh women’s team was pathetic. She is not bigger than the game. She got a very bad name for Indian cricket. BCCI should take very strict disciplinary action.”
In the post-match press conference, Nigar Sultana criticized her Indian counterpart as well.
"It is totally her problem. I have nothing to do with it. As a player, she could have shown better manners. I can't tell you what happened, but it didn't feel right to be there [for the photograph] with my team. It wasn't the right environment. That's why we went back. Cricket is a game of discipline and respect," the Bangladesh skipper stated.
As of now, the BCCI and ICC are yet to take disciplinary action against Harmanpreet Kaur but reports suggest that she is likely to be fined 75 per cent of match fees and handed demerit points as well.
