India’s women’s cricket captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, has been handed a two-match ban and fined 75 per cent of her match fee by the International Cricket Council (ICC) following her recent on-field behavior against Bangladesh.
According to foreign media, the ICC stated that Kaur admitted to “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision” and “public criticism in relation to an incident occurring in an international match.”
The incident occurred during a One-Day International (ODI) match on Saturday, which ended in a rare tie.
After being given out on 14 runs, Kaur hit the stumps in frustration and later made disparaging remarks about the umpiring, describing it as “pathetic.”
In addition to her actions on the field, Kaur was also heard telling her Bangladeshi counterpart, Nigar Sultana, to invite the umpires on stage after the post-match presentation, which led to the Bangladesh players opting out of a joint photo session.
The 34-year-old all-rounder, who is considered one of the biggest stars in women’s cricket in India, has a reputation for being an aggressive leader and a dependable batter. She captained the Mumbai Indians to victory in the inaugural edition of the T20 tournament.
Criticism of Kaur’s behavior has been widespread.
Former women’s cricket captain Diana Edulji expressed her dismay, stating, “I have been watching cricket for a long time, but have never seen anyone behave that way. She has set a bad example for her teammates.”
Harmanpreet Kaur’s ban comes at a time when women’s cricket in India has been gaining prominence, with the recent launch of a women’s equivalent of the lucrative Indian Premier League earlier this year. However, her actions have sparked controversy and raised concerns about the image of the game and the conduct expected from players, especially those in leadership roles.
