Ashish Ranjan
The vice-captain of the India women’s team, Smriti Mandhana, did an excellent job of maintaining her composure and remaining composed during the press conference following the thrilling tie in the third ODI against Bangladesh in Mirpur.
Mandhana was bombarded with queries regarding India captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s behaviour during the match and her fiery remarks regarding the umpiring standards throughout the series. Harmanpreet Kaur smashed the wickets with her bat after being dismissed during India’s series-deciding pursuit. The India captain was visibly dissatisfied with the decision, and after pulverising the stumps, she was also observed pointing and speaking to the umpire.
Mandhana concurred that, considering the atmosphere of the game, it was perhaps not the best thing to do, but he added that Harmanpreet’s action was done “in the heat of the moment.”
“Both teams exhibited a very high level of cricket. What transpired in the middle is an integral element of the game. We’ve witnessed these incidents so frequently in men’s cricket, so I’m confident you’re aware that something similar occurring in women’s cricket is not uncommon.
When you want to play for India, you always want to triumph, and in the heat of the moment, she was dissatisfied with the decision that was made. She was granted out, but she felt she wasn’t, which led to her reaction.
“Knowing Harman as a person and how badly she wants to win (it is possible), but from the standpoint of the spirit of the game, I would not say it is permissible. “But when you really want to win for India, things like this happen,” Mandhana said in the post-match presentation following the 3rd ODI, which ended in a stalemate due to India’s lower order collapse while chasing 225.
The reporters also interrogated Mandhana about Hamanpreet’s post-match comments. The captain of India criticised the local umpires, Muhammad Kamruzzaman and Tanvir Ahmed, for their “pathetic” officiating.
Harmanpreet stated, “They (Bangladesh) batted exceptionally well and in accordance with the circumstances. They were acquiring those extremely vital pairs. In between, we conceded a few runs, but we dominated the game while batting, despite the pitiful umpiring that I mentioned earlier.
Harmanpreet stated, “We are extremely dissatisfied with a number of umpire decisions.”Harmanpreet Kaur is accused of denigrating the captain and players of Bangladesh during the post-game presentation.
Before posing for the group photographs, the Bangladeshi media also accused Harmanpreet Kaur of denigrating Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty. Reports circulated in the Bangladeshi media that before posing for the post-match team photo, Harmanpreet requested that the umpires be included in the photo, as they were responsible for the shared trophy.
Mandhana defended her captain by asserting that Harmanpreet had not communicated with the Bangladesh captain.
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I do not believe that (she said this). You stated it yourself. I do not believe she addressed the Bangladesh commander. From what I’ve heard, think discussed umpiring a bit. I do not believe she mentioned them (the Bangladesh athletes).
“We should not discuss events that did not occur during the match. That occurred after the post-match presentation, so let’s not discuss it,” Mandhana continued.Harmanpreet’s actions and statements are likely to result in ICC sanctions. “We cannot resolve on a ban or anything else. There is an ICC panel that decides on such matters.”
India were bowled out for 225 in 49.3 overs after Bangladesh posted their highest total in the 50-over format against India, scoring 225/4 batting first with Fargana Hoque (107 not out) earning the country’s first-ever ODI century.
Smriti Mandhana scored 59 at the top of the order, while Harleen Deol scored 77 in the middle order, but India collapsed from 191 for four to 225 all out, losing the last six wickets for just 34 runs and settling for a 1-1 tie in the three-match ODI series.
