BCB Distances from Nigar’s Handshake Decision as Captaincy Future in Question
Rafiqul Islam Babu has backed his captain’s right to make a stand. He has also made it clear she will stand alone on it.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s women’s committee chairman defended Nigar Sultana’s decision not to shake hands with India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur after their Asia Cup semi-final, but underlined that the move came from the player, not the board.
“Of course, it was her own decision (not to shake hands with Harmanpreet),” Babu said. “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 incident arrived against a charged regional backdrop. Since last year’s men’s Asia Cup, Indian captains have refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts because of political tensions between the two countries. On Thursday, Nigar chose to step into that fraught space, declining the traditional post-match gesture after Bangladesh’s 40‑run defeat in the semi-final, where they fell short chasing 150.
If the act was personal, the consequences may not be.
Babu revealed that complaints have already been filed against Nigar for misconduct and that her position as captain will be formally reviewed once Bangladesh complete their Asian Games campaign.
“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,” he said.
Performance and behaviour will both be on the table. Bangladesh exited the Asia Cup at the semi-final stage and remain some distance from the region’s heavyweights, a gap Babu did not try to gloss over.
“First, we will see how the team performs at the Asian Games, then decide what needs to be done,” he said. “There are many shortcomings in the team. We have not been able to beat the bigger teams. 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. After the Asian Games we will decide what can be done.”
For Nigar, the next few weeks now carry a double weight: results in the middle, and a looming judgment off it that could reshape the leadership of Bangladesh women’s cricket.
