- Shamser Khalid
Harmanpreet Kaur’s Outburst Rocks Cricket
During the One-Day International match between India and Bangladesh, Harmanpreet Kaur's controversial dismissal led to an outburst that garnered significant attention. Kaur was caught at slip while attempting a sweep but vehemently argued that her bat did not make contact with the ball.
In response to the umpire's decision to rule her out, Kaur swung her bat at the stumps, sending them flying in an act of frustration.
Kaur's fiery conduct extended to the trophy ceremony, where she accused the umpires of favouring the Bangladeshi team. On social media, Kaur faced criticism and support from fans. Some were appalled by her behaviours, calling for severe punishments, while others admired her fearlessness and passion for the game.
Fellow Cricketers React
Diana Edulji
Former India captain Diana Edulji weighed in on the incident, acknowledging that cricketers reacting to bad umpiring decisions is not uncommon, given the high stakes and emotions involved. However, she condemned Kaur's conduct post-match,
“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. 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,” wrote Edulji.
Edulji emphasized that Kaur's actions set a poor example for her teammates and deemed her behaviours unacceptable. Notably, this was not the first time Kaur had displayed such outbursts, having earned a demerit point in a previous match for her behaviours.
Madan Lal
Madan Lal, a member of the 1983 World Cup-winning Indian team, has demanded strict action against Kaur for her behaviour against Bangladesh’s women’s team.
Anjum Chopra
Anjum Chopra, the former captain of the Indian women's team, has commented on the Harmanpreet situation and he believes that Harmanpreet will come to regret her behaviour once her emotions subside.
In an interview, Anjum Chopra expressed her thoughts: "When the aggression goes away and she becomes calm, I’m sure she would look back and agree that she needed to be more careful in showing her disagreement. There’s no harm in voicing your displeasure, but it’s how and when you do it. She should have been more selective with her choice of words too.”
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) deducted 75 per cent of her match fee and even added three demerit points to her disciplinary account.
