India

Harmanpreet Kaur to face ban during Asian Games

by
Zainab Shafiq
July 25, 2023

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India’s women’s cricket team may face a setback as they prepare to debut at the Asian Games in Hangzhou this September. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur could potentially miss two crucial matches due to a disciplinary issue stemming from her recent outburst during a match against Bangladesh. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is considering a two-match ban, which means she might only return if India reaches the gold medal match.

Harmanpreet Kaur’s ill behaviour to expel her from Asian Games

In Harmanpreet’s absence, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana is expected to lead the Indian team. The 34-year-old Harmanpreet is in danger of receiving four demerit points for her conduct during India’s final ODI against Bangladesh, making her liable for a Level 2 breach of the ICC code of conduct, which deals with player behavior, as reported by ESPNCricinfo. If the demerit points are applied, she will be suspended for two T20Is.

The timing of this potential ban coincides with India’s participation in the Asian Games in China. Luckily, India will receive direct qualification to the quarterfinals based on their ranking. However, Harmanpreet might miss the quarterfinal and semifinal matches, which are crucial stages in the competition.

The incident leading to the possible ban occurred during the final ODI in Bangladesh, where Harmanpreet displayed her frustration by smashing the stumps with her bat and remonstrating with the umpire. She also made a gesture towards the crowd and criticized the standard of umpiring during the post-match ceremony.

Should the ICC impose the two-match ban, Harmanpreet will need to watch from the sidelines while her team competes in the early stages of the Asian Games. It will undoubtedly be a challenging situation for the Indian team, and they will have to rally behind Smriti Mandhana’s leadership in Harmanpreet’s absence.

With India’s ranking securing them a spot in the quarterfinals, the team will be hopeful of advancing further and competing for the gold medal. However, the absence of their captain during crucial matches will undoubtedly be a significant obstacle that they’ll have to overcome. Only time will tell how India’s women’s cricket team fares in this prestigious tournament without the experienced presence of Harmanpreet Kaur on the field.