‘He Came Closer, Asked About My Period Cycle’: Bangladesh Pacer Accuses Ex-Selector Of Sexual Harassment | Cricket News

Bangladesh pacer makes shocking revelations

Bangladesh pacer Jahanara Alam has made a shocking revelation, accusing a former cricketer of sexual harassment. Alam, who is currently on a mental health break, has alleged that she received indecent proposals from the national team management during the 2022 Women’s ODI World Cup.

According to Cricbuzz, former pace bowler Manjurul Islam, who was the women’s selector and manager, did not let her flourish as she was not ready to accept his indecent proposal.

“I faced several times (indecent proposal), not once. Definitely, when we are involved with the team, we cannot speak out about many things, even if we want to. When it comes to your bread and butter, when you are known by a few people, you cannot say or protest many things even if you want to,” Jahanara told the Riasat Azim YouTube channel on Thursday.

Jahanara accused the late Towhid Mahmud, claiming that he had also approached her with a proposal through a BCB employee, Sarfaraz Babu. She further stated that former women’s committee head Nadel Chowdhury failed to stop Manjurul’s harassment, while BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury ignored her complaints.

“In 2021, Towhid Bhai approached me through Babu Bhai (Coordinator Sarfaraz Babu). I’ve said this many times before. I don’t know why they misbehaved with me. I tried hard to stay quiet and focus on cricket. But when I tactfully avoided the proposal, Manju Bhai began humiliating and insulting me from the very next day,” Jahanara said.

“Towhid Bhai never spoke to me directly — he sent Babu Bhai instead. After about a year and a half, I submitted an ‘Observation Letter’ to the CEO, not a complaint, explaining everything. Babu Bhai had told me to ‘look after Towhid Sir,’ but I replied, ‘He’s the in-charge, what is there for me to look after?’ I deliberately pretended not to understand the proposal. I’m sharing this so that other girls can also protect themselves this way. That’s when Manju Bhai’s bad behaviour started.”

She added, “The second proposal came from Manju Bhai during the 2022 World Cup. I decided to inform the BCB about everything that had happened over the past year and a half. I told Nadel Sir several times — he’d offer a temporary fix, but soon things went back to the same. I even informed the CEO.”

Recalling one incident in New Zealand, she said, “During our pre-camp, while I was bowling, he came up and placed his hand on my shoulder. He had a habit of pulling girls close, pressing them to his chest, and talking near their ears. We used to avoid him — even during handshakes after matches, we would extend our hands from a distance so he couldn’t pull us in. Among ourselves, we’d joke nervously, ‘He’s coming, he’ll hug us again.’”

She continued, “Once he came near me, held my hand, put his arm on my shoulder, leaned close to my ear, and asked, ‘How many days has your period been?’ He already knew, since physios track players’ cycles for health reasons as per ICC guidelines. I don’t know why a manager or selector needed that information. When I said, ‘Five days,’ he replied, ‘Five days? It should’ve ended yesterday. When your period is over, tell me — I have to look after my side too.’ I just looked at him and said, ‘Sorry, Bhaiya, I didn’t understand.’”

Manjurul, Sarfaraz Babu Deny Allegations

According to Cricbuzz, Manjurul has dismissed all the allegations.

“What can I say apart from terming it as baseless. You can ask other cricketers whether I was good or bad” Manjurul was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

Babu said that she made up the entire story.

“It’s unfortunate she is dragging a dead man I just want her to come up with proof instead of making baseless accusations,” said Babu.

BCB Takes Notice

BCB officials said they are aware of the matter and will initiate an investigation if necessary.

“The allegations are quite serious, and so we have to sit and decide what should be our next course of action, and if required, we will certainly have an investigation,” Cricbuzz quoted BCB vice-chairman Shakhawat Hossain.