Bangladesh women’s right-arm pacer Jahanara Alam, who is currently based in Australia, hopes for a comeback to international cricket by meeting the required fitness criteria and following proper protocols. In the second and final part of her interview with Jubayer Tanin of TIMES, she says her experiences have damaged her trust in Bangladesh cricket and calls for an investigation into the allegations, stressing that her ultimate goal is a healthier team environment and better results.
The new board and women’s wing appear to be making positive changes, but some officials, including physiotherapist Suraiya Akter, returned after being placed on OSD. How do you view this?
Jahanara Alam: The allegation against Suraiya was reportedly presented as a sexual harassment issue linked to how she described a discussion about menstruation, which led a selector to question me in an inappropriate manner. But my complaints went beyond that. Suraiya repeatedly denied me basic medical support, including kinesiology (KT) tape, which I needed to support my body while bowling. She would say there was no tape available, even though other players received it regularly for shoulder, hamstring and ankle support during training.
I only needed three small pieces, each about eight inches long, to support my body while bowling and prevent swelling. When she began ignoring my requests, I started buying KT tape myself. When I needed knee caps, she also told me they were unavailable, so I contacted chief physician Debashish Chowdhury and collected them through the medical department. On some occasions, when KT tape was out of stock elsewhere, he arranged it for me through the men’s team or another team.
Do you recall any specific incident that reflects the lack of support you experienced?
Jahanara Alam: During the 2022 World Cup Qualifier in Doha, I needed two stitches between my little finger and ring finger after injuring my hand during training, the day before a match. Suraiya did not accompany me to the hospital. I repeatedly begged her to come with me, even crying and holding her hand because I was terrified of needles. I have such a severe fear of injections that five people had to hold me down when I received my Covid-19 vaccine. Despite my distress, she sent me to a hospital in Doha with the team liaison officer and two male ambulance personnel to get the stitches.
Was there favouritism within the team when it came to medical and physiotherapy support?
Jahanara Alam: Yes. During the Doha qualifier in 2022, Suraiya said she had to attend to Fahima because she was also injured. Fahima had a minor fracture in the upper part of her right little finger, but she bowled 10 overs that day. Despite that, the physiotherapist stayed to look after her, while I was left without support after needing two stitches in my hand. I was frightened and needed someone with me, but Suraiya sent me to the hospital with the team liaison officer and ambulance personnel.
When I returned to my room after getting the stitches, she came only to collect the medical report for the board. She did not ask how I was feeling. When I told her I had received only paracetamol for the pain, she said it was not a problem and that she already knew what medication I had been given. She was more concerned about collecting the report than checking on my condition, according to Jahanara.
How would you describe your experience with injury management and bowling workloads? Did you receive the support you needed from those responsible?
Jahanara Alam: I was repeatedly overlooked. After getting stitches in Doha, I needed further treatment, but Suraiya did not accompany me to the hospital on our day off. She said she had to buy medication from a pharmacy, so I went with the team liaison officer while she travelled separately to buy medicine for the team.
There were also concerns about my bowling workload when Manjurul Islam was in charge. I was regularly made to bowl 17 to 20 overs a day, around four or five more than other pace bowlers, who generally bowled 10 to 17 overs. I felt the workload was increasing my risk of injury.
I raised the issue in front of Suraiya, referring to chief physician Debashish Chowdhury’s comments about the importance of workload management for fast bowlers. Manjurul responded by asking whether I was unfit to bowl. When he asked Suraiya whether anything like that had happened, she remained silent. I felt the discussion made me look at fault, and that concerns about my workload could be used as a reason to drop me from the team. Despite these experiences, I continued playing.
You mentioned that physiotherapist Suraiya presented your sexual harassment allegations differently. Were there any other incidents involving members of the team or staff?
Yes. In 2021, physiotherapist Farzana Amin Liza, who works with the Under-19 team, was also allegedly subjected to an inappropriate proposal by Touhid. Unlike my case, where Manjurul approached me directly, Touhid allegedly made the proposal directly to Liza. After she avoided him, she was no longer called up for camps or tours. There is written evidence of this.
Do you think these incidents point to a wider problem, and have you received any updates on whether the allegations are being investigated?
A person in a position of power allegedly made an inappropriate proposal to a female member of the support staff, and when she refused, she was sidelined. She was not the only one affected. Liza has had opportunities under the current management, which I believe is trying to bring positive changes and address these issues. But the earlier incidents cannot simply be overlooked. I have the right to know how far the investigation has progressed, or whether it is happening at all. As a direct victim myself, I would expect to be heard and called in for a hearing so I can share my account. All these issues need to be addressed.
You mentioned that many players were sidelined. Did you see this happening in player selection, central contracts or opportunities to get into the national team?
The board introduced a payment system for top performers in domestic cricket, but many players have received allowances or salaries without performing, while several deserving performers have been left out. Why did this happen, and who was responsible? Don’t the players who performed deserve those benefits and a place in the national camp? The purpose of domestic tournaments is to identify top performers for the national camp and then select the national team from there. If only players who performed five years ago continue to be considered, while current domestic performers are ignored, there is no point in holding domestic tournaments. They would simply become a formality.
Was there any specific selection decision that you felt was unfair?
Jahanara Alam: Sharmin Akter Chhoya is a senior player in the national team whose inclusion I have questions about. Meanwhile, Sanjida Islam Asha performed well but was overlooked. Despite finishing as the third-highest wicket-taker in domestic cricket, she was not called up and was not included in the contract or allowance system. She even submitted a written complaint to former board chairman Rasna Imam.
Who do you think influences these decisions? The selectors are responsible for scouting players, but does someone else have a say?
Jahanara Alam: As far as I know, our current captain has some influence. Afia Ashima Era was expected to captain Bangladesh at the Under-19 World Cup. The management had told her during the camps that she would be captain. She was training at the Masco Cricket Academy at the time, where I also worked with her and helped develop her skills. But once she returned to camp, the situation changed, and Sumaiya Akter, a BCB-affiliated BKSP player from Sherpur, was named captain instead. Our current captain is also from Sherpur. You can understand why I raised the question. Such a level of support for someone is not right.
You have raised concerns about several selection decisions. Was there also a case where you felt a senior player was unfairly dropped to make way for someone else?
Jahanara Alam: Salma Khatun was dropped and Sultana Khatun brought back into the team despite having no notable domestic performances at the time, as far as I know. Sultana was called into camp at short notice, and arrangements were made for her passport ahead of a series. I believe the circumstances surrounding Salma’s exclusion deserve scrutiny. Similarly, during the 2023 Sri Lanka tour, Rumana Ahmed was dropped to make way for Shorna Akter, who was carrying a wrist injury. Despite medical advice that she needed another month or so to recover, Shorna continued training under pressure and was eventually taken on tour while injured. She could not play and was sent back, with Rubaiya Haider Jhilick brought in as her replacement. These decisions raise questions about selection and injury management.
You have also questioned how certain players were given opportunities and established in the team. Do you believe these decisions warrant an investigation?
Jahanara Alam: Farzana Haque Pinky has had a few good performances, including against India, but I question whether her overall record justifies the opportunities she received as a T20 opener. Other openers were put under pressure to make way for her, with extra drills and training demands. Nigar Sultana Joty, who was her friend, also allegedly pressured other openers to help establish her in the team. Given these incidents, why has there been no investigation, or at least no clarification about its findings? If an investigation has taken place, we have not been told what it found.
You have raised concerns about the pressure other openers faced while Farzana Haque Pinky was being established in the team. Can you explain what happened and why you believe these incidents need to be investigated?
Farzana Haque Pinky has had a few good performances, including against India, but I question whether her overall record justifies the opportunities she received as a T20 opener. Other openers were put under pressure to make way for her, with extra drills and training demands. Nigar Sultana Joty, who was her friend, also allegedly pressured other openers to help establish her in the team. Given these incidents, why has there been no investigation, or at least no clarification about its findings? If an investigation has taken place, we have not been told what it found.
Part 1
You have also spoken about missed opportunities for Bangladeshi players in franchise cricket and raised concerns about the team environment. Can you explain what you believe went wrong?
Jahanara Alam: Salma Khatun, Rumana Ahmed and I played in franchise leagues and helped create opportunities for other Bangladeshi players. After I played in the IPL, Salma got an opportunity the following year, and then Shuktara played. I also played in the FairBreak Invitational, where Rumana featured before Nigar Sultana Joty was invited the following year. After the PSL, there were discussions about bringing two or three more Bangladeshi players into franchise teams, but that did not happen. We had helped open those doors, yet the pathway seems to have closed. Does that mean Bangladesh no longer has players good enough to play in these leagues? We have several performers who deserve opportunities.
I also have concerns about the team environment under the current captain. In my view, personal influence has been allowed to play too big a role in team affairs. There were rules against outsiders staying at camp, yet I saw situations that appeared to contradict those rules. I also witnessed behaviour that I felt was inappropriate for a national team environment. These are matters that need to be examined, because the national team should not operate according to one person’s preferences.
Part 2
You have made serious allegations about the use of power within the team. Do you believe these incidents have affected players’ careers and the overall culture of Bangladesh women’s cricket?
Jahanara Alam: Yes, that is one of my biggest concerns. When Salma, Rumana and I were captains, we tried to maintain professional boundaries between players and coaching staff. But I have since seen an environment in which those boundaries appeared to have weakened. During my time back with the team, I felt some players were more focused on maintaining relationships and finding shortcuts to secure places in the squad or central contracts than on their performances.
Today’s players have better salaries, higher match fees, improved facilities and more opportunities to earn. In our time, domestic payments were much lower, but we focused on performing and tried to beat teams such as Pakistan and Sri Lanka consistently. I cannot say exactly what has happened over the past two years, but the environment I witnessed concerned me.
My question is whether any investigation has taken place, or whether one should be launched after so many incidents. I believe the misuse of power has damaged the team environment, closed doors to franchise opportunities and harmed several players’ careers. The captain has publicly questioned how she could damage anyone’s career when she has no such power. But I believe she did have influence, and these allegations deserve a proper investigation.
What was your experience during your final series for Bangladesh, from missing out on the playing XI to not being given the ball at crucial moments?
Jahanara Alam: Before my last match in Sylhet, I was two wickets away from reaching 50 ODI wickets, but I was not given a single game in the Mirpur series. Yet I was kept as the 12th player to field as a substitute, which showed I was fit enough. Even when Ritu Moni fell ill with a fever and suffered a hamstring problem, she was sent onto the field while I remained on the sidelines. Eventually, I called a selector and said I would not travel to Sylhet just to sit on the bench. The selector told me they had been unable to convince the captain and head coach, but promised to try to get me a game.
You eventually played all three T20Is against Ireland. How do you remember that series, especially the final match?
Jahanara Alam: I played all three matches and took a wicket in the final game. We had a chance to win, and I believe I bowled well, but the captain gave the final over to Shorna Akter, who was not a regular bowler. It was an over I could have bowled, as could other regular bowlers, but I was not given the opportunity. The match slipped away at that point.
Do these practices negatively affect the team? How?
Jahanara Alam: Ultimately, the team suffers, which is why I am calling for an investigation. My goal is better team results and a healthy environment. If I am wrong, I will accept that and have nothing more to say. I have lost faith in people, but I still believe in Allah and pray for justice before I die. Positions and people’s words may change, but I leave the judgment to Allah.
