Indian women’s cricket team captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, is facing the likelihood of a two-match ban following her on-field outburst during the third and final ODI against Bangladesh, which ended in a tie.
Her conduct, both on the field and during the post-match presentation, has landed her in trouble, and she could become the first female cricketer to be found guilty of a Level 2 breach of the ICC code of conduct, which deals with player behavior.
The incident occurred when Harmanpreet was adjudged caught at slip by umpire Tanvir Ahmed. In a moment of frustration, she vented her anger by smashing the stumps with her bat and seemingly remonstrated with the umpire.
Matters escalated when, during the post-match ceremony, she openly criticized the standard of umpiring, using strong language to express her discontent.
As per insider reports, the match officials have recommended three demerit points for the equipment damage and an additional demerit point for publicly criticizing the match officials.
Harmanpreet is set to become the first female cricketer found in violation of a Level 2 breach of the ICC code of conduct
The final decision, however, rests with the ICC, and the BCCI has been actively engaging with the governing body on this matter.
The implications of accumulating demerit points are significant. Under ICC rules, when a player amasses four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they are converted into suspension points.
In the case of Harmanpreet, her potential four demerit points could lead to a two-match suspension – be it a Test or two ODIs or T20Is, depending on her team’s schedule. It is worth noting that Harmanpreet has previously faced disciplinary action.
In the semi-final of the 2017 ODI World Cup against Australia, she received a demerit point for her on-field behavior when she exchanged heated words with her teammate Deepti Sharma after a mix-up during their century partnership.
Coincidentally, in a similar episode that occurred in Bangladesh in 2021, all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was suspended for three matches and fined for kicking the stumps in frustration after an lbw appeal was turned down.
The outcome of the ICC’s decision will have ramifications for Harmanpreet and set a precedent for how player behavior is handled in women’s cricket.
As the matter unfolds, fans and cricket enthusiasts await the final verdict on whether the captain will face the proposed ban, making her absence felt in the upcoming matches.
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