NEW DELHI: Out-of-favour Bangladesh pacer Jahanara Alam has levelled serious accusations against national women's team captain Nigar Sultana Joty, claiming that she "beats up" junior players - allegations the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has dismissed as "baseless and unfortunate."
Speaking to the Bangladeshi daily Kaler Kantho, Jahanara made a string of explosive claims against the skipper, several teammates, members of the coaching staff, and team management, following the team's seventh-place finish at the recent Women's ODI World Cup held across India and Sri Lanka.
"This is nothing new. Joty beats up the juniors a lot," Alam told the daily.
"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."
Jahanara Alam, who took a two-month break earlier this year after suffering a mental health breakdown during the 2024 T20 World Cup in the UAE, last represented Bangladesh in December against Ireland.
The 32-year-old pacer, who has 48 wickets in 52 ODIs and 60 in 83 T20Is to her name, alleged that the national team’s environment had grown increasingly toxic over the years - a situation she said compelled her to step away to protect her mental well-being.
"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 Joty (Nigar Sultana) and Sharmin Sultana. The pressure on seniors started from then on."
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) moved swiftly to dismiss the allegations.
"The BCB categorically and strongly refutes these allegations, which are baseless, fabricated and devoid of any truth," it said in a statement.
"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 board further described the remarks as "deliberate and ill-intentioned".
"It is deeply disappointing that an individual who currently has no involvement or relevance in the plans of Bangladesh cricket has chosen to make such misleading statements in public," the BCB said.
Backing its current players and management, the BCB said it has "complete trust and confidence in the women's national team's leadership, players and management” and has "found no evidence to support any of the claims made."
Joty has not yet responded to the charges.
