Watch: Harmanpreet Kaur vented her frustration at being given out lbw by smashing her bat into the stumps in a dramatic ODI series decider between India and Bangladesh today (July 22).
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India were set 225 by Bangladesh after Fargana Hoque scored her maiden ODI century in Bangladesh’s innings. Despite losing Shafali Verma and Yastika Bhatia early on in the chase, Smriti Mandhana and Harleen Deol built a solid partnership to take India to 139-2 in the 29th over. When Mandhana was dismissed by Fahima Khatun, Harmanpreet Kaur came to the crease.
She reached 14 off 20 balls before pulling out a big sweep to Nahida Akter. The umpire immediately raised his finger as Akter launched into a celebrappeal, much to Kaur’s displeasure. She punched her bat and stared at the umpire before turning around and swinging her bat into the stumps.
As she walked of the field, she shouted towards the umpire and gestured towards her bat, seemingly indicating she had hit the ball before it had gone into her pad. Nevertheless, the ball had ballooned up to the slip fielder after it had hit Kaur, who had caught the ball comfortably. The official mode of dismissal recorded on the scorecard was lbw.
Despite being clearly angry with the decision, Kaur did give a thumbs up to the crowd as she neared the boundary rope. Under the ICC Code of Conduct, Article 2.2 covers “Abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match,” which makes specific reference to “any action(s) outside the course of normal cricket actions, such as hitting or kicking the wickets”.
If the match referee deems Kaur has breeched Article 2.2, she could face adding Suspension Points to her record and/or a fine from her match fee.
