How can legend of Harmanpreet Kaur’s stature do something like this: Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty

Joty – who walked out of the field with her teammates following Kaur’s outburst during the post-match presentation – opened up on the bitterly contested match. The Bangladesh cricketer went on to claim that the umpiring issue was raised by the Indians because they couldn’t win the ODI series as the same umpires were in the T20Is.

In an interaction with Revsports, Joty said that she wasn’t upset with Harmanpreet venting out her frustration after getting out as she smashed the stumps. The Bangladesh cricketer admitted that such things happen in sports, however, her actions during the post-match presentation were uncalled for and avoidable.

Joty said, “You are right in saying such things happen in sports and it is not the first time. You are also right in saying that it happened in the heat of the moment. However, had it been restricted to the field of play, honestly speaking I would not have felt bad about it or felt disappointed.

“I would have told my players that it was all in the intensity of the moment and it is better than all of us moved on from it. But what really disappointed me was that it was not restricted to the field of play.”

The 25-year-old further claimed that her teammates also consider Harmanpreet a legend of the game but they were also dismayed with the latter for not showing a bigger heart.

She added, “Let me tell you something. For my players too Harmanpreet is a legend of the game. They too look up to her. And when they came and said to me how can a legend of her stature do this to us, I felt sad and disappointed. That’s what has pained me the most.”

When asked if she could have reacted differently than to taking her team off the field, the right-handed batter added further, “There are certain things that are permissible in

“Off the field, we are all players who play the same sport and should have respect for each other. That’s what we are taught in sports and that’s what I believe in. To tell you the truth I had felt that whatever may have happened earlier Harmanpreet and Smriti would walk up to my girls and give them a pat on their back after the match was over and tell them well played.”

She added, “Coming from players of their calibre and stature it would have meant the world for our girls. I have seen legends like M. S. Dhoni or Virat Kohli do this after a game is over. I am sure you have seen this happen after many IPL games or even international games.

“When it did not happen and she said things which were disrespectful and hurtful during the prize giving, I decided to walk away with my team. I did not want to stay there anymore and add to the occasion. Someone had to end it and by walking away I did so. We shouldn’t let unpleasant things go on and by walking away I tried to put an end to things.”

On India’s charge of poor umpiring, she said, “The very same umpires officiated in the T-20 series which India won. In fact, that too was a very close series and I feel we should have done better in the second game and won it but we did not. But that is not the point here. The moot point is the very same umpires officiated in the T-20 series as well.

“There was not a single complaint from India. Is it because they had won the series? Had they won the final ODI, would they have raised the issue of umpiring or was it raised because they did not win the series and they were disappointed and frustrated with the result? We have always been taught as cricketers to respect the umpire’s decision as final and move on,” she stated.