Jahanara Not Satisfied, Slams Razzaks Remarks

Amid long-standing discomfort and allegations within Bangladesh women’s cricket, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has finally taken disciplinary action, but the decision has not brought full relief to experienced pacer Jahanara Alam.

Jahanara had earlier made explosive allegations about various irregularities within the team, accusing Nigar Sultana Jyoti of exerting dominance, forming a syndicate, and mistreating junior players. However, those claims were later dismissed by the BCB.

Then head of the women’s wing, Abdur Razzak, also did not give due importance to the matter and instead questioned Jahanara’s position, which the pacer says left her deeply frustrated.

Expressing disappointment over Razzak’s role, Jahanara said, “What hurt me the most is that the then chairman of the women’s wing, Abdur Razzak bhai, without any verification, commented that I am an outsider and everything I said was baseless. Razzak bhai should have known that I was neither dropped from the team nor have I retired. I am still a player of the Bangladesh national team. I am on leave due to mental health issues—away from my beloved homeland and far from my beloved cricket, Bangladesh cricket.”

Even after Manjurul Islam was found guilty, Jahanara said she was surprised by Razzak’s comments, alleging that he questioned the severity of the punishment.

In this regard, she further said, “It hurt me even more that even after Mr. Manju was found guilty and given punishment, Razzak bhai—who was then the vice chairman and still a guardian of the women’s wing—again commented that his brother Mr. Manju had already been given a very big punishment. According to him, Manju did not deserve such a harsh penalty.”

Jahanara also highlighted the culture of fear in women’s cricket, saying many players do not dare to speak out due to social pressure and fear of losing their place in the national team.

Reacting strongly to another remark by Razzak, she said, “He (Razzak) also commented that women cricketers play cricket through compromise. My question to you, Razzak bhai—you are someone’s son, your wife is a woman, you surely have sisters—they are also women. I don’t know whether you have a daughter.”

Drawing a personal comparison to underline the seriousness of the issue, Jahanara finally said, “If your sister, your wife, or your daughters were playing cricket and faced the same situation, would you still make such disgusting comments? I feel very hurt, and it is hard for me to accept that you have represented Bangladesh, that you were a former cricketer, and that you are the son of a woman.”