‘She could have shown better manners’ – Nigar Sultana on Harmanpreet Kaur’s destroying stumps and calling the umpiring ‘pathetic’

Harmanpreet Kaur. (Photo Source: Twitter/Female Cricket)

India and Bangladesh shared the spoils in the three-match ODI series as the deciding final match ended in a tie at the Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. However, Harmanpreet Kaur’s scathing remarks on the umpires for some of their dubious calls in the match hogged the limelight.

In the post-match presentation ceremony, the Indian captain called the standard of umpiring “pathetic” and said that the next time India visits Bangladesh for a tour, they will prepare accordingly. Her opposite number, Nigar Sultana, blasted her for not respecting the decisions of umpires.

“It is totally her (Harmanpreet’s) problem. I have nothing to do with it. As a player, she could have shown better manners. I can’t tell you what happened, but it didn’t feel right to be there [for the photograph] with my team. It wasn’t the right environment. That’s why we went back. Cricket is a game of discipline and respect,” Sultana said in the press conference after the third ODI.

“The umpires wouldn’t give her out if she wasn’t out. We had umpires from men’s international cricket, so they were good umpires. What are they [India] going to say about the caught or run-out dismissals? We have respected their decisions. The umpire’s decision is the final decision, whether I like it or not. Why didn’t we behave in that way [like the India players]?”

For the unversed, Harmanpreet Kaur wasn’t happy with her LBW decision and expressed her resentment by destroying the stumps with her bat. No. 11 batter Meghna Singh’s dismissal also seemed controversial as the tailender didn’t look convinced when she was given caught behind.

Harmanpreet Kaur Hits The Stumps With Her Bat In Anger After On-Field Umpire Rules Her LBW In 3rd ODI pic.twitter.com/09SVb8mF8C

— Nibraz Ramzan (@nibraz88cricket) July 22, 2023

Marufa Akter holds her nerves in the last over

Marufa Akter has been a great find for Bangladesh. Nigar Sultana gave her the responsibility of bowling the final over as India needed just three runs to win with a wicket in hand. The teenager conceded just two runs before dismissing Meghna Singh to help the home side tie the match and share the series with their neighbours.

The last wicket also ensured that Akter finished the highest wicket-taker in the three-match ODI series. In the three matches, the young right-arm pacer picked up seven wickets at an average of 19.00.