New Delhi: Bangladesh women’s team pacer Jahanara Alam has made some shocking allegations against captain Nigar Sultana Joty after the team’s disappointing show in the recently concluded Women’s ODI World Cup 2025. Bangladesh failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the World Cup after managing a solitary win in the tournament.
Bangladesh finished a disappointing seventh in the eight-team tournament with three points from seven matches. Sultana led the team in the tournament. Slamming her for creating a toxic environment in the side, Alam accused Sultana of ‘beating and slapping’ junior players in the team.
Alam, who is currently out of favour with the national team, last played for Bangladesh in December last year. She claimed several junior players don’t want to play for the national team due to the fear of facing physical assault from Sultana. Alam alleged Sultana slapped juniors during the team’s 2025 Women’s World Cup campaign.
“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,” Alam told Bangladesh newspaper Kaler Kantho.
Alam alleged there has been systematic discrimination with players in the Bangladesh women’s team, alleging favouritism for a few. The 32-year-old claimed nearly every player in the squad has faced some sort of issues.
“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,” said the Bangladesh women’s team pacer.
Bangladesh Cricket Board denies Jahanara Alam’s claims
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has rubbished Alam’s claims, calling them ‘baseless’ and ‘fabricated’. BCB stated that the ‘ill-intentioned’ claims are aimed at undermining the spirit of the current Bangladesh women’s team which has made significant progress in the recent past.
“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,” read a statement from the BCB.
“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,” it added.
As per BCB, Alam opted for a two-month mental break earlier this year and thus was not included in Bangladesh’s squad for their historic tour of West Indies. Alam had earlier opened up about her mental health struggles post the T20 World Cup last year. Currently based in Sydney, Australia, she now has a Level 2 coaching badge from Cricket Australia.
While the chances of her comeback in the Bangladesh national team are slim after the recent controversy, Alam is reportedly keen on making a return. She also has plans to get into coaching in the future and is preparing for the same.