India Women’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur has been banned for two matches by the ICC for her verbal swipe at umpires and on-field behaviour against Bangladesh.
Kaur was also fined 75% of her match fee.
She admitted “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision” and “public criticism in relation to an incident occurring in an international match”, the ICC said in a statement, adding that she accepted her punishment.
The team India all-rounder hit the stumps after being given out on 14 in the ODI on Saturday – which ended in a rare tie – and later called the umpiring “pathetic”.
She was heard telling her Bangladeshi counterpart Nigar Sultana to invite the umpires on stage after the post-match presentation, forcing the Bangladesh players to opt out of a joint photo session.
Frustrated Harmanpreet Kaur hits the stumps with her bat, few angry words to the umpire before walking off.pic.twitter.com/I9wktnDohz
— Don Cricket 🏏 (@doncricket_) July 22, 2023
Kaur is one of the biggest stars in the women’s game in India, which launched a women’s equivalent of the money-spinning IPL earlier this year.
The 34-year-old is seen 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.
“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 blasted 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.
© Agence France-Presse
