The players’ psychological health is being impacted by the uncertainties surrounding their participation in the T20 World Cup in India next month, according to Bangladesh Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, but they are “acting” as though “everything is ok.”
Shanto also slammed M Najmul Islam, the director of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), for referring to former captain Tamim Iqbal as an agent of India after Iqbal called for a measured and practical solution to the present deadlock.
Bangladesh’s participation in the marquee event has been marred by controversy when the BCB requested that the ICC relocate the team’s games from India due to security concerns.
“First of all, if you look at our World Cup results, we’ve never really played consistently good cricket. Last year, we did play well, but there were even better opportunities, and we couldn’t capitalise on them. But you’ll see that something always happens before every World Cup. I can say this from my experience of three World Cups — it does have an effect. Now, we act as if nothing affects us, that we are fully professional cricketers. You guys also understand that we are acting — it’s not easy,” Shanto told reporters on Friday.
According to Shanto, the players make an effort to put these distractions aside and play for the team.
“Of course, it would be better if these things didn’t happen, but this is partly beyond our control,” he said.
Bangladesh are scheduled to play four games in India (three in Kolkata and one in Mumbai) when the T20 World Cup begins on February 7.
Following the BCCI’s decision to release Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL, citing vague “developments all around” as justification, they urged that these games be shifted to Sri Lanka.
“I don’t know the details of how it happened, or how it could have been controlled. Still, I’d say that even acting in such circumstances (is difficult). With the right mindset if we go to the World Cup and play anywhere, we should focus on how to do our best for the team,” Shanto said.
Shanto slammed BCB director M Najmul Islam’s description of former captain Tamim Iqbal as “an Indian agent”.
“Very sad, very sad because such comments were made about a cricketer – a former captain, and in my opinion one of Bangladesh’s most successful cricketers whom we grew up watching. As players, we expect respect – whether someone is a former captain, a regular player, successful or not. At the end of the day, a cricketer hopes for respect,” Shanto said.
Shanto claimed that although the BCB “is supposed to be our guardian,” they ultimately made an undesirable statement.
“Parents should correct you at home, not in front of everyone. So such a comment from someone who is supposed to be our guardian is very difficult to accept. I completely reject it as a player,” he concluded.
