Rafiqul Islam Babu, chairman of the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s women’s committee, has distanced the board from national captain Nigar Sultana’s decision to avoid shaking hands with Indian counterpart Harmanpreet Kaur during their recent Asia Cup semi-final. While acknowledging the incident, the board emphasized that it was an individual choice rather than a team or organizational directive. Babu stated clearly, “Of course, it was her own decision,” reiterating that the board maintains a philosophy that sport should foster global unity and positive relations with all nations, including India.
The controversy unfolded as Bangladesh exited the Asia Cup following a 40-run defeat while chasing a target of 150. Beyond the handshake issue, the board is addressing broader concerns regarding the team’s competitiveness and a formal complaint of misconduct lodged against the captain. Babu confirmed that these matters have been brought to the attention of the board president, though immediate action is being deferred until the conclusion of the upcoming Asian Games to avoid disrupting the squad’s preparations.
Assessing the team’s long-term trajectory, the committee chairman noted that despite showing promise in events like the World Cup, the side continues to falter against top-tier opponents due to recurring minor errors. The board is currently focused on identifying structural shortcomings to build a more resilient and competitive unit. “First, we will see how the team performs at the Asian Games, then decide what needs to be done,” Babu said. Future decisions regarding leadership and squad composition will be finalized once the Asian Games campaign concludes. The report also notes that since last year’s men’s Asia Cup, Indian captains have refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts due to political tensions between the two country.
