There is some serious news brewing in regard to the Bangladesh cricketing system as fast bowler Jahanara Alam has levelled serious allegations against national captain Nigar Sultana Joty and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), accusing them of creating a toxic environment in the women’s cricket setup. The claims come in the aftermath of Bangladesh’s disappointing run at the 2025 Women’s World Cup, where they finished seventh on the points table with just one win in the tournament.
In a candid interview with Bangladesh-based newspaper Kaler Kantho, the 32-year-old pacer, who last represented Bangladesh in December 2024, alleged that Nigar Sultana physically assaulted junior players and that fear and favouritism have long existed in the dressing room.
“This is nothing new. Joty beats up the juniors a lot. Even during this World Cup, the juniors told me, ‘No, I won’t do this again. Then I’ll have to get slapped again.’ I heard from some people, ‘I got beaten up yesterday.’ Even during the Dubai tour, she called a junior into the room and slapped her,” she said.
Alam, who has featured in 52 ODIs and 83 T20Is for Bangladesh and picked up 108 wickets across formats, claimed that the treatment of senior players deteriorated after 2021. She alleged that the process of sidelining senior cricketers began soon after the Covid-19 break.
“Actually, I am not alone, everyone in the Bangladesh team is more or less a victim. Everyone’s suffering is different. Here, one or two people get advanced facilities and in some cases, only one person gets them. In 2021, the process of eliminating seniors like me along with a few others from the post-Covid camp began. Then I was made the captain of one of the three teams in the Bangladesh Games. The captains of the other two teams were Jyoti (Nigar Sultana) and Sharmin Sultana. The pressure on seniors started from then on,” she added.
Following the World Cup, Alam’s comments have caused a storm in Bangladesh cricket circles. Currently based in Sydney, the veteran pacer had taken a break from international cricket in January 2025, citing mental health concerns and requesting to be excluded from the BCB’s central contracts list.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has strongly rejected Alam’s claims, describing them as “baseless” and “fabricated.” In an official statement, the board said:
“The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has taken note of recent remarks made in the media by a former member of the Bangladesh Women’s National Cricket Team, in which she has made a series of allegations against the current National Team Captain, players, staff and team management.”
“The BCB categorically and strongly refutes these allegations, which are baseless, fabricated and devoid of any truth. The Board finds it unfortunate that such derogatory and scandalous claims have been made at a time when the Bangladesh Women’s Team is showing commendable progress and unity on the international stage.”
The statement further described Alam’s remarks as “deliberate, ill-intentioned and seemingly aimed at undermining the spirit and confidence of a team that continues to represent the country with pride.”
Led by a spirited skipper in Nigar Sultana Joty, the team was off to a positive start in the World Cup as they beat arch-rivals Pakistan in the campaign opener by 7 wickets. The team gave England, South Africa and Sri Lanka a run for their money but failed to cross the finish line. Their last league game ended in a washout against eventual champions India in Navi Mumbai.
