BCB Clarifies Nigar Sultana’s Decision Not to Shake Hands With HarmanpreetThe Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has backed women’s team captain Nigar Sultana over her decision not to shake hands with India captain Harmanpreet Kaur after their Asia Cup semifinal, while making it clear that the move was not a decision taken by the board.
Rafiqul Islam Babu, chairman of the BCB’s women’s cricket wing, said the decision was entirely Nigar’s own.
“Of course, it was her own decision not to shake hands with Harmanpreet,” Babu said. “We believe sport brings the world together. We want friendly relations with every country, not just India. So what she did was entirely her personal decision.”
Tensions Date Back to 2023
The incident has been portrayed by several media outlets, particularly in India, as part of a wider pattern following the refusal of Indian and Pakistani players to shake hands during the 2025 Asia Cup.
However, tensions between the women’s cricket teams of India and Bangladesh had already been simmering for several years.
The strained relationship dates back to their bilateral series in 2023, when Harmanpreet accused the umpires of biased officiating.
The controversy escalated during the presentation ceremony after the series ended in a draw. As the two teams gathered on the podium, Harmanpreet reportedly gestured toward the umpires and invited them to join the players—an act widely interpreted as a sarcastic suggestion that the officials were effectively part of Bangladesh’s team.
The episode marked a turning point in relations between the two sides.
A Relationship That Has Grown Increasingly Cold
Since then, India and Bangladesh’s women’s teams have rarely been seen exchanging handshakes, whether on the international stage or in Asian tournaments.
Against that backdrop, Nigar’s decision at the 2026 Asia Cup was less an isolated incident than another chapter in an already strained relationship between the two sides.
While the BCB has made clear that it did not instruct Nigar to snub Harmanpreet, the board has nevertheless stood by its captain and emphasized that the decision was hers alone.
