Harmanpreet Kaur and Nigar Sultana (Pic credit: ACC)

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. We want friendly relations with all countries, not just India and so whatever she did was entirely her personal decision.”

BCB distances itself from Nigar’s decision

The clarification from Babu effectively ruled out any suggestion that Bangladesh had adopted a broader no-handshake policy similar to the one seen in recent India-Pakistan men’s fixtures.Nigar’s decision came against the backdrop of heightened political tensions between India and Pakistan, which had spilled over into cricket after last year’s men’s Asia Cup. Indian captains had subsequently avoided handshakes with their Pakistani counterparts, making the Bangladesh skipper’s gesture particularly noticeable when she followed a similar route against India.However, BCB has stressed that there was no board directive behind Nigar’s decision.The focus now appears to have shifted from the toss incident to the captain’s future, with the board confirming that her position will be assessed after the Asian Games.

Nigar’s captaincy under review

Babu revealed that complaints had also been lodged against Nigar over alleged misconduct, adding another layer of uncertainty around her leadership.“We have discussed the thing (performance and complaint) in total with the board president and since they are in Asian Games we will assess the situation after the conclusion of the games,” he said.“First, we will see how the team performs at the Asian Games, then decide what needs to be done,” Babu added.The comments suggest that Nigar’s future will be determined not by the controversy surrounding the handshake, but by Bangladesh’s performances and the complaints made against her.

Bangladesh fall short against India

On the field, Bangladesh were unable to match India in the semi-final. Chasing 150, they were bowled out for a 40-run defeat, ending their campaign and sending India into the final.Babu acknowledged that Bangladesh continue to struggle against the stronger sides despite showing signs of improvement.“There are many shortcomings in the team. We have not been able to beat the bigger teams. We played well in the World Cup too but lost because of small mistakes,” he said.“We are working to make the team stronger and more competitive. After the Asian Games we will decide what can be done,” he concluded.