Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur handed two-match ban for outburst
The International Cricket Council (ICC) banned India women’s cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur for breaching the code of conduct.
In a recent statement, the ICC revealed that the right-handed batter from India faced penalties for two separate breaches during their third ODI against Bangladesh.
As a consequence, the Indian batter was fined 50 percent of her match fee and received three demerit points. Additionally, she was docked 25 percent of her match fee for publicly criticizing an incident that occurred in an international match.
No formal hearing will take place in this matter as Harmanpreet Kaur admitted her offenses and agreed to the sanctions proposed by umpire Akhtar Ahmed. The incident that led to this disciplinary action occurred when Kaur attempted to sweep a delivery from spinner Nahida Akter in the 34th over. However, the ball hit her pad and went to the hands of the first slip, resulting in an LBW decision.
In an unfortunate display of poor sportsmanship, the 34-year-old batter reacted angrily to the umpire’s decision by destroying the stumps with her bat. Following a thrilling tie in the match, Kaur went on a post-match tirade against the umpire, blaming “poor umpiring” as one of the reasons for her team’s loss.
The situation escalated further when the team captains were set to take pictures with the trophy together. Kaur, inappropriately, requested Nigar Sultana to bring the umpires, implying that they were responsible for the unfavorable outcome.
Nigar Sultana, not tolerating Kaur’s behavior, decided to walk off with her team into the dressing room. She criticized Kaur’s conduct, stating that it was entirely her problem and as a fellow player, Kaur could have displayed better manners. Sultana emphasized that the environment was not right and, hence, they left the scene.
She asserted that cricket is a game that requires discipline and respect, which should be upheld by all players.
Kaur was reprimanded for smashing the wickets after her dismissal and terming the umpiring ‘pathetic’ in a match against Bangladesh.
India’s women’s cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur has been banned for two matches by the game’s apex body for her verbal swipe at umpires and on-field behaviour against Bangladesh in a recent match.
Kaur was also fined 75 percent of her match fee by the International Cricket Council (ICC), it announced in a statement on Tuesday.
The incidents occurred during the third match of the ICC Women’s Championship series against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Saturday.
In the first incident, Kaur expressed frustration after her dismissal by hitting the wickets with her bat after she was adjudged caught at slip off spinner Nahida Akter in the 34th over of India’s innings. The all-rounder later called the umpiring “pathetic”.
Kaur was also reprimanded for her behaviour during the post-match presentation ceremony when she openly criticised the umpiring in the match.
She was heard telling her Bangladeshi counterpart Nigar Sultana to invite the umpires on stage, forcing the Bangladesh players to opt out of a joint photo session.
The ICC said Kaur admitted to “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision” and “public criticism in relation to an incident occurring in an international match” and that she accepted her punishment.
Kaur is one of the biggest stars in the women’s game in India, which launched a women’s equivalent of the lucrative Indian Premier League earlier this year.
Set a bad example
The 34-year-old has been viewed as an aggressive leader and dependable batter, and captained the Mumbai Indians to victory in the inaugural edition of the T20 tournament.
“I have been watching cricket for a long time, but have never seen anyone behave that way,” former women’s captain Diana Edulji wrote in her column in the Indian Express on Tuesday.
“She has set a bad example for her teammates,” Edulji said.
“It was deplorable to see Harmanpreet call the umpires to pose with the Bangladesh team, suggesting that they were part of the team and playing for them.”
Indian men’s World Cup winner Madan Lal also criticised Kaur.
“Harmanpreet’s behaviour against the Bangladesh women’s team was pathetic,” Lal tweeted.
“She is not bigger than the game. She got a very bad name for Indian cricket.”
India’s own cricket authorities “should take very strict disciplinary action”, he added.
