Nigar Sultana's Handshake Snub and Captaincy Under Review After Asia Cup
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has stepped into the growing storm around Nigar Sultana, backing her right to refuse a post-match handshake with Harmanpreet Kaur while making it clear she did so without the board’s blessing – and that her captaincy is now under scrutiny.
The flashpoint came after Bangladesh’s 40-run defeat to India in the women’s Asia Cup semi-final, where Nigar opted not to join the traditional handshake line with the Indian captain. The gesture echoed the recent stance from India’s men’s team, whose captains have stopped shaking hands with their Pakistani counterparts since last year’s Asia Cup amid political tensions.
This time, though, the call came from the player alone.
“Of course, it was her own decision (not to shake hands with Harmanpreet),” said Rafiqul Islam Babu, chairman of the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s women’s committee. “We believe sports bring the world together. We want friendly relations with all countries, not just India and so whatever she did was entirely her personal decision.”
The message was unmistakable: the board will not own the act, but it will not publicly condemn its captain either.
Elimination, complaints and a captain under pressure
Bangladesh’s exit from the Asia Cup was blunt. Chasing 150, they folded 40 runs short, another missed chance against a heavyweight opponent in a tournament that had offered a clear measuring stick of their progress.
Behind the scenes, the fallout has gone beyond one snub at the end of a game. Babu confirmed that complaints have been lodged against Nigar for misconduct, and that her position as captain will be formally assessed after the upcoming Asian Games.
“We have discussed the thing (performance and complaint) in total with the board president and since they are in Asian Games we will assess the situation after the conclusion of the games,” Babu said.
That gives Nigar and her team one more major event to shape the narrative. Perform, and the conversation softens. Falter again, and the board’s patience may snap.
“We will see how the team performs at the Asian Games, then decide what needs to be done,” Babu added.
Performance gaps laid bare
Away from the controversy, Babu did not hide his frustration with Bangladesh’s inability to consistently trouble the top sides. The Asia Cup semi-final only reinforced a pattern that has dogged the team on the global stage.
“There are many shortcomings in the team. We have not been able to beat the bigger teams,” he admitted. “We played well in the World Cup too but lost because of small mistakes. We are working to make the team stronger and more competitive.”
The assessment was blunt, but it also hinted at a wider reset. The board is not just judging a captain’s behaviour; it is weighing up the entire direction of the women’s programme.
For Nigar, the picture is stark. Her decision not to shake hands has thrust her into a political and sporting spotlight, but it is her runs, her leadership and Bangladesh’s results at the Asian Games that will decide whether she continues to lead this side or becomes the first major casualty of a team that has promised much and delivered too little when it matters most.
