BAN Vs AFG: Bangladesh Coach Ducks Question On Shakib Al Hasan-Tamim Iqbal Controversy

Bangladesh’s head coach, Chandika Hathurusinghe, took a diplomatic stance and avoided delving into the ongoing controversy surrounding Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal ahead of their opening match against Afghanistan at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

When questioned about the highly-discussed TV interview where captain Shakib Al Hasan criticized senior opener Tamim Iqbal, Hathurusinghe tactfully chose not to provide a direct response during a press conference in Dharamsala.

“I had a conversation about his batting, bowling, and captaincy,” Hathurusinghe remarked when asked if he had addressed the TV interview with Shakib.

The controversy emerged when Tamim Iqbal, a seasoned opener, was left out of the 2023 World Cup squad due to what the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) cited as a persistent back injury. However, on September 27, 2023, Tamim made a surprising revelation on his official Facebook account, contradicting the BCB’s claims.

Tamim alleged that he had been urged to manage his injury and participate in the World Cup, with suggestions to either skip the opening match against Afghanistan or bat in an unfamiliar middle-order position. Feeling uncomfortable and pressured, Tamim requested to be dropped from the squad.

Bangladesh Captain Shakib Al Hasan Criticised Tamim Iqbal On TV

This revelation sparked controversy and drew criticism from Shakib Al Hasan, who, in a TV interview on September 28, 2023, described Tamim’s behavior as “childish” and expressed his unwillingness to include an unfit player in Bangladesh’s World Cup squad.

Shakib also disclosed that Tamim had refused to bat at No. 3 in their first World Cup match against Afghanistan, exacerbating the rift between the two players. Shakib’s reaction to Tamim’s claims indicated a lack of team spirit on Tamim’s part.

In the latter part of the interview, Shakib continued to criticize Tamim, stating that he lacked a team-oriented mindset. He expressed disappointment over Tamim’s reluctance to adapt to the team’s requirements and bat in different positions.

“Someone like Rohit Sharma built his career from No. 7 to opener, scored 10,000-plus runs. If he sometimes bats at No. 3 or 4, would it be a big problem? It is totally childish. It is my bat, I will play. No one else can play. A player should bat at any position for the team. Team first,” Shakib had said.

Chandika Hathurisinghe, however, conveyed Bangladesh’s confidence in their World Cup campaign, emphasizing their aim to reach the semi-finals.

“Yeah, we all want to win the World Cup but as you rightly asked me realistically is that if we win 4-5 games, we give ourselves a chance to get into the semifinal of the knockout stage – that’s our first aim,” he added.

“I think we have a good enough team to do that – our first aim is to get to the semifinal stage,” Hathurisinghe concluded.

Bangladesh will face England in their next match at Dharamshala on 10th October. It will be a tough challenge for Bangladesh against the defending champions who are coming after losing the first game against New Zealand.