Indian cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur has been handed a two-match ban and fined 75% of her match fees by the Apex Cricket Council due to a breach of the code of conduct. The incident occurred during the 3rd ODI against Bangladesh, where she displayed unruly behaviour by forcefully hitting the stumps after her dismissal. Match referee Akhtar Ahmed filed two charges against her, and Harmanpreet admitted guilt to both charges.
The council confirmed that she received three demerit points for “expressing dissent at an umpire’s decision,” making her the first women’s player to receive a Level 2 sanction since 2016. Additionally, she was fined 50% of her match fee for the same offence. Harmanpreet also faced a separate Level 1 penalty and a fine of 25% of her match fee for engaging in “public criticism” of match officials. This criticism arose during the post-match presentation when she called the umpiring during the series “pathetic.”
Smriti Mandhana to lead India in the Asian Games 2023
As a consequence of the ban, Harmanpreet will miss the quarterfinals and semifinals of the prestigious Asian Games in 2023. In her absence, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana is likely to lead the Indian team. This punishment has sparked mixed reactions among fans. While some are demanding her removal from the captaincy role, others are calling for an improvement in the level of umpiring and the use of technology in international games.
Notably, former India skipper Diana Edulji slammed Harmanpreet and said that she set the wrong precedent. She said, “What happened post-game was not needed, all the more because Harmanpreet is the Indian captain. She has set a bad example for her teammates. This makes Harmanpreet’s behaviour all the more unacceptable.”
“I am aware that Harman is hot-tempered, and maybe her ugly conduct was because she wasn’t able to score runs. But she crossed the limit that day as she continued to protest during the presentation ceremony.”
Here is how fans reacted to Harmanpreet Kaur’s punishment:
— RKD Fanclub (@RkdFanclub) July 25, 2023
No one is bigger than the game
— Nitin jain(Sachinsuperfan) (@NitinSachinist) July 25, 2023
But I like her aggression
— Ravi Arora (@R_Rsa24) July 25, 2023
Dhoni fan ??
— Aman (@Chiku_Bhaiya) July 25, 2023
bad behavior always harmful ??
— 000.sui ? (@myselfn10n) July 25, 2023
Right decision
— Pandu Raj (@CSKianPanduRaj) July 25, 2023
Good one
— Rizwan Khan ???? (@khan_here_) July 25, 2023
Too less for such arrogant behaviour.
The punishment should have been more harsher!!
— Mustafa Moudi (@Mustafamoudi) July 25, 2023
Just because she is from punjab and Punjab has AAP govt. Harmanpreet kaur is being treated like this.
Politics in cricket by this BJP govt has stooped to a new low ?
— Jitesh (@Chaotic_mind99) July 25, 2023
Should be sacked from captaincy. Doesn't deserve as ICT women captain, with this kind of behavior ?
— Satya P Singh(spbtctrade) (@spsinghweb) July 25, 2023
The whole women team for eternity must be banned
— . (@Stokesy135) July 25, 2023
Fight was between MI teammates Kaur and Umpires?
— Rituraja Gajakwad 31 (@RiturajPopa) July 25, 2023
Completely deserved! Indian players have aggression but class as well. Virat also shows aggression but never behaves in the manner she did! Appealing behavior of a leader bad example for kids coming in. 2 matches very less. She should be fined heavily as well
— Maddy Pillai ? (@madhav_murali) July 25, 2023
India women's next series asian games?
— Muhammad Suhail? (@KS96Suhail) July 25, 2023
