Indian batter Smriti Mandhana came out in support of Harmanpreet Kaur after Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana criticised the Indian captain's 'manners' post her controversial on-field behaviour upon her dismissal during the 3rd ODI between India and Bangladesh in Mirpur.
Sultana accused Harmanpreet of being disrespectful towards her team. During the group photograph, the Indian captain reportedly called the umpires to join for the click as they were the reason for the shared trophy which led to Sultana asking her team to return to the dressing room.
Responding to the Bangladeshi captain's accusation, Mandhana who defended her skipper said that Harmanpreet never spoke about the Bangladeshi players and went on to add, 'We should not talk about things that did not happen during the match'
Mandhana further backed the 34-year-old who lashed out at the Bangladeshi umpires calling them 'pathetic' after she was adjudged leg-before off a Nahida Akter delivery while trying to sweep. She claimed that the ball hit the bat before hitting the pads. She broke the stumps in disgust.
The Indian opener said, "What happened in the middle is part and parcel of the game. We have seen these incidents so much in the past in men's cricket, when you play for India, you want to win the match. It happens in the heat of the moment, but I think she was not really happy with the decision given. She was given out and she felt that she was not out"
"When you want to win so badly, I think the spirit of the game and all those things, definitely we can talk about later. But knowing Harman as a person, knowing how much she wants to win for India, from the spirit of the game (perspective) that it is (wrong), but yeah, when you really want that ‘W’ on the board for India, these things happen."