Bangladesh women’s cricket team captain Nigar Sultana Jyoti has been sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for breaching its Code of Conduct during the recent Twenty20 International series against Sri Lanka Women’s Cricket Team. The disciplinary action follows Bangladesh’s winless campaign in the series, which concluded with a 3–0 defeat.
The incident occurred on 2 May during the third and final T20I at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. During Bangladesh’s innings, Sultana was dismissed and expressed dissatisfaction with the umpire’s decision. As she was leaving the field, she threw her bat onto the ground in frustration. The ICC determined that this act constituted misuse of cricket equipment, which falls under a Level 1 offence within its disciplinary framework.
As a result, Sultana has been officially reprimanded and handed one demerit point. According to the ICC, this is her first offence within a 24-month period. Because she admitted the breach and accepted the sanction imposed by match referee Supriya Rani Das, no formal hearing was required.
The charge was brought forward by the on-field umpires Eloise Sheridan and Sathira Zakir Jessy, along with third umpire Rokeya Sultana and fourth umpire Champa Chakma. Their report led to the subsequent disciplinary action by the ICC.
Under the ICC Code of Conduct, Level 1 offences are considered the least serious breaches. However, they are still subject to penalties designed to uphold discipline and professionalism in international cricket. Sanctions for such offences typically include an official reprimand, a fine of up to 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, and the addition of one or two demerit points to the player’s disciplinary record.
Demerit points remain on a player’s record for a period of 24 months. Should a player accumulate multiple points within that timeframe, they may face escalated sanctions, including suspension from international matches. In this instance, as it is Sultana’s first recorded offence in the stipulated period, the punishment has been limited to a reprimand and a single demerit point.
The following table summarises the key details of the incident:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Player | Nigar Sultana Jyoti |
| Team | Bangladesh Women |
| Opponent | Sri Lanka Women |
| Match | Third T20 International |
| Date | 2 May |
| Venue | Sylhet International Cricket Stadium |
| Offence | Misuse of cricket equipment |
| Sanction | Reprimand and 1 demerit point |
| Match Referee | Supriya Rani Das |
| Reporting Umpires | Eloise Sheridan, Sathira Zakir Jessy, Rokeya Sultana, Champa Chakma |
The ICC continues to enforce its Code of Conduct to ensure that players adhere to established standards of behaviour during international matches.