Diana Edulji and Harmanpreet Kaur. (Photo source: Twitter)
India women’s skipper Harmanpreet Kaur has been capturing all the headlines recently, mostly due to her behavior with the umpires after the third ODI of the recently concluded series between India and Bangladesh.
In the third ODI, Harmanpreet was dismissed for just 14 runs after on-field umpire Tanvir Ahmed declared her lbw out. However, the umpire’s decision did not sit well with the Indian skipper, who smashed the stumps in frustration and walked back to the pavilion while also indulging in a verbal spat with the umpires.
After the match was drawn, the 34-year-old continued calling out the officials as she called on the umpires to take part in the post-match photo, while trying to suggest that they had as much of a role in drawing the game as the Bangladesh side according. However, her behavior did not sit well with former India skipper Diana Edulji.
Coming forward to reflect on the same, Edulji opined that it was disturbing to see Harmanpreet Kaur act the way she did with the umpires. Furthermore, she also stated that she had never seen anyone react like she did and that it was uncalled for.
“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 have been very disturbed by the visuals from Saturday’s India-Bangladesh women’s game at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka that ended in a tie,” Diana Edulji wrote in her column for The Indian Express.
“I have been watching cricket for a long time but have never seen anyone behave the way India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur did after the game. What happened in Bangladesh was uncalled for,” she added.
The BCCI is giving them everything possible: Edulji
Furthermore, she also stated that while the Indian skipper’s behavior was unnecessary, the team hasn’t been performing up to the standards that have been set. She opined that the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) is providing everything to the team, but the players show a lack of responsibility.
“What is more worrying is the fact that the team is not performing as per expectations. The BCCI is giving them everything possible. The problem is that these players are playing like stars and not concentrating on their cricket. It is high time the BCCI takes action. Such behavior cannot be accepted,” Edulji wrote.