In a recent turn of events, Indian cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur has found herself at the center of controversy after the International Cricket Council (ICC) imposed a two-match suspension on her for breaching the Code of Conduct during the ODI series in Dhaka. The suspension comes after a delay in ICC’s official statement on the incident, during which veteran India cricketers demanded “strict action” against Kaur. The incident in question occurred during the series decider at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium on Saturday.
Following her dismissal, Harmanpreet Kaur expressed her frustration by smashing the stumps, leading to a Level 2 offence. For this act, she was fined 50% of her match fee and received three demerit points.But that wasn’t all. Harmanpreet’s actions didn’t stop there. After the match, she publicly criticized the umpiring standards, referring to them as “pathetic,” which led to her being found guilty of breaching article 2.8 of the Code of Conduct.
This resulted in a 25% fine of her match fee and one additional demerit point for a Level 1 offence of showing dissent at an umpire’s decision. As the controversy escalated, calls for action against Harmanpreet grew louder from within the Indian cricket community. Finally, on Thursday, BCCI’s board secretary, Jay Shah, broke the silence and addressed the incident. He stated that the board would not appeal for the revocation or relaxation of Kaur’s ban since the time for appeal had already passed.
Moreover, it was revealed that BCCI president Roger Binny and NCA head VVS Laxman, two legends of the sport, have been assigned to counsel Harmanpreet Kaur in the coming days as per the board’s directive. This move is seen as an effort to help the temperamental captain better manage her emotions on the field and avoid future breaches of the Code of Conduct. The suspension comes as a major setback for Harmanpreet, as it means she will miss the crucial quarterfinal and semifinal matches at the 2023 Asian Games. Her absence from these games will undoubtedly be felt by the team.
However, the suspension also provides her with an opportunity to bounce back and prove her mettle by potentially leading India to the elusive gold, but only if the team manages to excel in her absence. In the wake of this incident, the cricketing world will closely watch how Harmanpreet Kaur responds to the ban and the support she receives from BCCI’s counseling efforts. As a prominent figure in women’s cricket, Kaur’s actions on and off the field will undoubtedly come under scrutiny, making it essential for her to reflect on her conduct and make amends for the future.