Local Bangladesh Players Don't Understand English - Herschelle Gibbs

The Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL) moves to Sylhet from today after the completion of the second Dhaka phase on December 31. Meanwhile, former South Africa cricketer Herschelle Gibbs has vented his frustration with the local players for their inability to understand English. Gibbs is currently coaching the Sylhet Thunders in the ongoing tournament.

The team has produced below-par performances so far in the competition, with only one win in eight games. They have no hopes left to make it to the play-offs. Other than some occasional sparks from Andre Fletcher, Johnson Charles, and Mohammad Mithun, the overall performance of the side has been quite disappointing. Amidst all this, Herschelle Gibbs has fired a bombshell with local players’ inability to understand English properly.

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Language barrier is the main problem – Herschelle Gibbs

Speaking about his side’s poor outing in the BPL, Gibbs cited that language barrier that has caused a lot of problems throughout the tournament. This is something new that has come out as no other foreign coaches have brought this problem. Sylhet have a total of 12 players from Bangladesh in the squad, out of which five have played for the national team. Gibbs also stated that the local players need to work on their understanding of the game apart from learning English.

“About local players, a lot of them don’t understand English. So, it is difficult for me to make points all the time. It is frustrating,” said Gibbs yesterday in Sylhet. “I think the understanding of the game needs to be improved. And another thing is, they are very temperamental. I mean, it’s difficult for me to explain to them because they don’t understand it properly. 

The other day Rubel Mia was opening the batting and he was on 14 off 28 deliveries. I walked on to the field during time-out and I said to him, ‘What is happening, you got 14 off 28 balls?’ And in reply, he just shook his head! It’s not his fault solely but this is the reality,” he added.

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Meanwhile,  Herschelle Gibbs is not the only South African on coaching duty with Bangladeshi players. There are in total four South Africans currently working in the Bangladesh national team management with head coach Russell Domingo, batting coach Neil McKenzie, fielding coach Ryan Cook and physio Julian Calefato all from South Africa. Gibbs also wondered how McKenzie communicated with the local cricketers.

“I would love to be able to speak to them [players] like this, like I am speaking to you now and that they can say they understand every word. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. I am not sure what Neil McKenzie is saying (smiles). He is from South Africa, and I am also from there. He [McKenzie] is also helping them to understand what he is trying to do. But I know McKenzie is a good coach, and the players will learn a lot from him. But I don’t know how much he is actually getting across. Maybe I have to, you know, get a new language before I come here,” Gibbs concluded.