During the Women's Asian Cup 2026 semi-final against India, Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana drew public attention for refusing to shake hands with Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur during the toss. In response, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) issued a clarification on the matter.
According to Rafiqul Islam Babu, chairman of the BCB women's committee, this was a personal decision made by Nigar Sultana herself, and the BCB was not involved in making that decision. He emphasized: 'Of course, it was her own decision. We believe that sport unites the world. We want friendly relations not only with India but with all countries. Therefore, what she did was entirely her personal choice.'
In the semi-final, the Indian team set a target of 150 runs against Bangladesh. However, the Bangladesh team could only score 109 runs, losing the match by a margin of 40 runs. The next major goal for the Bangladesh team is the 2026 Asian Games. The board indicated that the team's future and her captaincy would be determined after this competition.
Rafiqul Islam Babu reported that complaints regarding Nigar Sultana's inappropriate behavior had been received by the board. Nevertheless, a final decision on this issue has not yet been made. The board will first evaluate the team's performance at the Asian Games and then discuss issues related to Nigar's captaincy and other matters.
He also noted that all issues related to the Bangladesh team's results and the received complaints were discussed with the board chairman. It will be decided what steps to take next after the conclusion of the 2026 Asian Games.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board is not fully satisfied with the performances of its women's team. Rafiqul Islam Babu admitted that the Bangladesh team finds it difficult to win against strong teams. He added that although Bangladesh performed well in the World Cup, the team suffered defeats due to minor errors.
The board is currently working to make the Bangladesh team stronger and more competitive. Decisions regarding the team's results, complaints against Nigar Sultana, and issues related to her captaincy will be made after the Asian Games.
