Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty has been officially reprimanded for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the third T20I against Sri Lanka in Sylhet.
The sanction was confirmed by the International Cricket Council (ICC), following an incident that occurred during Bangladesh’s innings on Saturday. According to the ICC, Nigar was found to have violated Article 2.2 of the Code of Conduct, which relates to the “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match.” The breach occurred after Nigar’s dismissal, when she threw her bat onto the ground in frustration before walking back to the pavilion. While the act was brief, it was deemed to fall under the category of inappropriate handling of equipment.
As a result, the Bangladesh skipper received an official reprimand, the minimum penalty for a Level 1 offence along, with one demerit point added to her disciplinary record. It is her first offence within a 24-month period. The charge was brought by the on-field officiating team, including umpires Eloise Sheridan and Shathira Jakir Jesy, alongside third umpire Rokeya Sultana and fourth umpire Champa Chakma.
This is not an isolated disciplinary incident for Bangladesh in the series. Earlier, both Nahida Akter and Sharmin Akhter were also handed demerit points for separate Level 1 breaches of the ICC Code of Conduct. While each offence has been minor, the repeated instances have drawn attention to player conduct, with match officials maintaining close oversight throughout the series.
The reprimand comes at the conclusion of a tour that ultimately went Sri Lanka’s way. The visitors completed a 3-0 sweep in the T20I series, adding to their 2-1 win in the ODI series, capping a successful all-format outing.
The final T20I, where the incident took place, was a tightly contested encounter. In a rain-affected match, Sri Lanka posted a modest total and successfully defended it by a narrow margin, underlining their ability to handle pressure situations. Despite Bangladesh showing glimpses of resistance, they were unable to overturn the deficit or avoid the clean sweep.
Under ICC regulations, Level 1 offences carry penalties ranging from an official reprimand to a fine of up to 50% of a player’s match fee, along with one or two demerit points. These points remain on a player’s record for a period of 24 months. If a player accumulates four or more demerit points within that window, they are converted into suspension points, which can result in bans from international matches.
Nigar as captain, remains a central figure in Bangladesh’s setup, both as a leader and a key contributor with the bat. Her immediate acceptance of the sanction ensured a swift resolution, allowing the team to move on without prolonged proceedings.
As Bangladesh look ahead to future assignments, the focus will likely be on improving on-field performances while also ensuring discipline remains intact. The series serves as a reminder of the fine balance between competitive intensity and adherence to the spirit of the game.
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