Rift between Shakib Al Hasan and Taskin Ahmed? Bangladesh pacer issues clarification on absence vs India after missing team bus

Bangladesh fast bowler and vice-captain Taskin Ahmed opened up about missing the Super Eight match against India in the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2024. Taskin Ahmed revealed that he missed the team bus but reached the stadium around half an hour before the toss between India and Bangladesh.

Bangladesh faced scrutiny for their decision to drop Taskin Ahmed in a must-win Super 8 match against India during the T20 World Cup. The team's selection strategy was questioned, as they opted for only two pacers in the playing XI. The Bangladesh bowlers conceded 196 runs and lost the match by 50 runs.

Bangladesh picked Jaker Ali in place of Taskin Ahmed in their lineup to strengthen their batting order. However, Ali managed to score only one run during the 197-run chase against India. The Bangladesh team lost their next match against Afghanistan, leading to their elimination from the marquee T20 tournament.

News reports claimed that Taskin was dropped because he missed the team bus before the match against India. According to a report by Cricbuzz, a Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) official stated that the 29-year-old pacer apologized to his teammates for this incident ahead of the crucial game against India.

I Wasn't Going To Play Anyway - Taskin Ahmed

Taskin Ahmed, speaking to the newspaper Ajker Patrika, admitted that he missed the team bus but arrived at the ground well before the toss for the match against India. He mentioned that he reached the ground approximately 30-40 minutes before the toss, despite having missed the initial team bus.

"I was a little late, but I reached at the ground before the toss. I arrived at the ground around 30-40 minutes before the toss. I missed the team bus. The bus left the hotel at 8.35am. I left for the ground at 8.43am. I almost reached the ground with the bus,” said Taskin Ahmed to a Bangladesh publication Ajker Patrika as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

The 29-year-old fast bowler stated that his absence from the bus did not affect the team's plans as he was already not included in the playing XI due to team composition reasons.

"It is not as if they didn't pick me because I arrived late. I wasn't going to play anyway," Taskin added.

Taskin Ahmed was included in the subsequent match against Afghanistan, where he took one wicket for 12 runs in his four overs. Overall, he had a solid performance in the World Cup, securing eight wickets across six matches with an average of 17.12 and an economy rate of 6.42.

Taskin Ahmed Arrived 5-10 Minutes Before The Toss - Shakib Al Hasan

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Shakib Al Hasan stated that Taskin Ahmed arrived only 5-10 minutes before the toss, making it difficult for the team management to consider selecting him. Shakib said that Taskin apologized to the team, and everyone understood it was an unintentional mistake.

"The bus usually leaves at a certain time. It is the rule that the team bus doesn't wait for anyone. West Indies is a difficult place for transport. He arrived 5-10 minutes before the toss, so naturally it was difficult for the team management to select him. It was also a difficult situation for the player. Taskin apologised to the team, and everyone took it very normally. It was an unintentional mistake. It ended there," Shakib said.

Also read: Axar Patel, Virat Kohli ignored as Aakash Chopra announces his 'Best XI of the T20 World Cup 2024'