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Harmanpreet Kaur Handed Two-Match Ban By ICC, Set To Miss Key Asian Games Matches

image-lkid138yHarmanpreet Kaur has been reprimanded for her unsporting conduct (Twitter)

In what comes as a massive setback for the Indian women's team, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has slapped captain Harmanpreet Kaur with a two-match suspension following two separate infractions of the ICC Code of Conduct.


Harmanpreet to miss key Asian Games 2023 matches after two-match ban

The offences were committed during the dramatic final ODI of the three-match series against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Saturday.

Harmanpreet's first lapse came in the heat of the moment when frustration got the better of her following her dismissal. In an atypical display of dissent, she took out her disappointment on the stumps, using her bat in the 34th over of India's innings after being caught at slip off the bowling of Bangladesh spinner Nahida Akter.

This public display of dissent was classified as a Level 2 offence under ICC rules. It resulted in a hefty fine, amounting to half of Harmanpreet's match fee, and the addition of three demerit points to her disciplinary record. 

The specific violation was tied to Article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, relating to “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision”.

Following the match, the Indian skipper found herself under the ICC's scanner once again when she publicly criticised the match's umpiring during the presentation ceremony. The post-match criticism led to a further reduction of 25% from her match fee, as it was categorised as a Level 1 offence - involving "public criticism in relation to an incident occurring in an international match."

The 34-year-old acknowledged the transgressions and accepted the sanctions meted out by Akhtar Ahmed from the ICC International Panel of Match Referees. The acceptance streamlined the process, removing the need for a formal hearing and allowing for immediate implementation of the penalties.

The accumulated four demerit points from Harmanpreet's violations translated into two suspension points, paving the way for her suspension. The imposed ban on Harmanpreet implies that she will be absent for the quarterfinal and potentially the semi-final of the Asian Games 2023, should India secure a victory.

As the Women in Blue are among the top four ranked teams, they are directly entering the quarterfinals. Harmanpreet is expected to return to the squad for the final, provided India successfully navigates the earlier stages. In her absence, the team will be led by Smriti Mandhana.