Bangladesh players booed at airport, vehicles attacked as Afghanistan whitewash triggers violent backlash
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Bangladesh players have hit a massive low in their recent ODI series against Afghanistan as they suffered a 0-3 whitewash. They faced large-scale backlash as Bangladesh fans openly revolted and even attacked their vehicles outside the airport.
Bangladesh are gearing up to host the West Indies for a long white-ball home series. The matches will include white ball games across both ODI and T20I formats. The games will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur.
The Bangladesh team has hence landed on Bangladesh soil for the upcoming series and hopes to revive their standards after a humiliating defeat in the previous series against Afghanistan at their home. The Afghans have started their World Cup preparations with sheer confidence.
Bangladesh players face violent backlash
For the first time in the history of the game, Bangladesh lost a series with a clean sweep against Afghanistan. This time, the Mehidy Hasan Miraz-led side was only doomed by the presence of the Afghans, as they lost the first match by 5 wickets, the second by a margin of 81 runs, and lastly the third by a mammoth 200-run margin.
Bangladesh, though qualified for the Super-4 stages over Afghanistan in the Asia Cup, has faced the heat of criticism from its fans and spectators. As per reports, as soon as the Bangladesh team landed in Dhaka, they were booed by the Bangladeshi fans.
In a social media post of Bangladesh opening batter Mohammad Naim Sheikh, it was clear that the vehicles of players were attacked.
Victory comes, defeat comes - that's the reality of sports -Mohammad Naim
Naim took to social media and pleaded to the Bangladesh fans not to continue such hatred, as it has made an impact on the team's mindset and has voided all the efforts put in by them in the series, which unfortunately ended in a clean sweep.
"We who take the field, we don't just play - we carry the name of our country on our chest. The red and green flag isn't just on our bodies; it's in our blood. With every ball, every run, every breath, we strive to make that flag proud," he wrote.
"Yes, sometimes we succeed, sometimes we don't. Victory comes, defeat comes - that's the reality of sports. We know that when we lose, it hurts you, angers you - because you love this country just as much as we do.
"But the way hate was directed at us today, the attacks on our vehicles, that truly hurts. We are humans; we make mistakes, but we never lack love or effort for our country. Every moment, we try for the country, for the people, to bring a smile to your faces," he continued.
"We want love, not hate. Let criticism come with reason, not anger. Because we are all children of the same flag. Whether we win or lose—may the red and green always be a source of pride for all of us, not anger," he argued that criticism should come with reason and not out of outbursts.
"We will fight, and we will rise again - for the country, for you, for this flag," he concluded.
Mohammad Naim is out of the upcoming ODIs against the West Indies
The Bangladesh batter has been dropped from the ODI squad for the upcoming home series against the West Indies, while Mahidul Islam Ankon has been given a maiden call-up to the national ODI side. Soumya Sarkar has also been recalled for the ODIs since he last played in the Champions Trophy.
Naim has been snubbed a chance alongside Litton Das, the T20I skipper who has been rested, since the BCB doesn't want to risk the skipper with eyes set on the next year's ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
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Bangladesh National Cricket Team Afghanistan National Cricket Team Bangladesh vs Afghanistan BCB Mohammad Naim Afghanistan vs Bangladesh
