Nigar Sultana’s handshake snub to Harmanpreet backfires as BCB weighs captaincy
Bangladesh women's cricket captain Nigar Sultana is under scrutiny after refusing to shake hands with Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur during the Asia Cup. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has distanced itself from the action, stating it was a personal decision and not a board policy.
Why it matters
The incident reflects how geopolitical tensions can influence sportsmanship and the diplomatic challenges faced by sports governing bodies.
Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana’s decision to skip the traditional handshake with India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur at the toss of the Women’s Asia Cup semi-final has left her own cricket board distancing itself from the gesture.The incident came before Bangladesh’s 40-run defeat to India, with Nigar refusing to shake hands with Harmanpreet during the pre-match proceedings. While the move immediately drew attention amid the recent tensions surrounding handshakes in India-Pakistan cricket, the Bangladesh Cricket Board made it clear that the captain’s decision was not sanctioned by the board.Rafiqul Islam Babu, chairman of the BCB women's committee, said Nigar acted on her own and insisted that the board remained committed to maintaining cordial relations with all cricketing nations.“Of course, it was her own decision (not to shake hands with Harmanpreet),” Babu said. “We believe sports bring the world together.
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