Bangladesh Cricket Board Tuesday night announced the 15-member World Cup squad, minus experienced opener Tamim Iqbal.
While chief selector Minhajul Abedin Nannu cited fitness concerns for Tamim’s exclusion, different media reports were doing the rounds, with some suggesting that the former captain had said he would play only five matches in the world event.
With all sorts of rumors and speculation circling around the Bangladesh cricket fraternity, Tamim set the record straight Wednesday evening in a video message.
Here are the excerpts:
“What was spread in the last two-three days is completely different than what happened actually. I’m telling you what happened step by step. I think my fans and cricket lovers should know it.
“I worked tremendously hard in the last two months to be fit. Those who were involved, like physio and trainer, would agree with me that I didn’t miss any session or exercise they wanted from me to achieve fitness.
“Mentally, I was not happy when the games got closer because of whatever has happened last four-five months. If you relate this with your life you can understand that it is not easy.
“When I started the game, I fielded for 30-35 overs and couldn’t bat. Then I got the chance to bat in the second match and the result was the best possible outcome I needed. Unfortunately, we lost the game. I always say runs don’t matter if you are not winning.
“It was important for me to score some runs and feel how I was batting. I was very happy with the way I batted. I only scored 44 runs but I was confident for something big but unfortunately, it didn’t happen. I was actually very happy mentally.
“What happened in the last four-five months was not in my head. I was looking forward to playing again. I was looking forward to the World Cup.
“It’s normal that there would be discomfort in your body when you play cricket after such a long time and just recovered from an injury. It was not different for me. I felt a little pain after the first match. Then the next match was held.
“I shared my situation with the physio after the match, about what I was feeling. Three selectors came to the dressing room at the same moment. I want to make it clear that I never told anybody that I can’t play more than five matches. Nannu bhai also cleared it. I don’t know how it was spread to media. It was absolutely false.
“What I told to the selectors was that my body would remain the same – there could be pain. I requested them to keep this in mind during the selection.
“It could have happened that I would play all nine matches because the fixtures of the World Cup were like that – there are three-four days gap in between the games apart from the first two. It may happen that someone is fit but gets injured after playing two matches. You can replace players anytime. This is what I shared to them clearly.
“It was clearly mentioned in the physio report that I am available for selection for the game on the 26th but the medical department thought if I take rest, as we have the flight on the 27th and a practice match (on the 29th) and another practice game on October 2, and play the second warm-up game before the first match (World Cup), I will have enough time for rehab and be in better shape for the first game (against Afghanistan). That was exactly on the report. There was nothing mentioning that I can’t play.
“A person from top level of board called me one-two days later. He is very involved with our cricket. He told me that they would send me to bat at lower-order if I play against Afghanistan. I was happy with a good innings, then suddenly these words which I couldn’t take lightly because I batted at same position for 17 years and never batted at No 3 or 4. I had no experience of this. I didn’t like the idea.
“I felt I was being given obstacles intentionally, in a lot of things. I said to them, listen, you guys do one thing, if you people think along these lines then don’t send me to the World Cup. I don’t want to be involved in this dirty business.
“I don’t want to be given a new task everyday. Even after that I talked with that individual a lot over phone, I don’t think I should reveal those in this platform. Let this remain between myself and that individual. I strongly told the individual not to involve me in this dirty business, if needed they need not select me because I can’t be a part of this.
“Overall what I felt personally was that - I don’t know if I’m putting this correctly – it was presented to the media in such a way that the big picture is not disclosed. Many have this habit to cover the big picture with these little things – he would only play five matches, how can we select him?
“As I said, these are all false, we never talked about this. There were three selectors that day, the physio was there along with the trainer and myself, everyone was there, I have already told you guys what I clearly said that day.
“If you really want me, you should make me mentally free and happy because I am coming out of a very bad three-four months. These three-four months were really hard for me.
“If these things were presented to me nicely, I would have reacted in a different way. Maybe I would have accepted it. But if they call you suddenly without any reason and tell you that you won’t play, or that they have discussed it should be better for you to play down the order, I’m not too sure how much fair that is.
“So this is what has exactly happened. I don’t have anything else to add. All I had to share were the things that happened with me. I shared those with you.
“At the end of the day, the 15 who have gone to the World Cup, I wish them all the very, very best and I hope they bring success for Bangladesh. A lot of things have happened, I’m sure you all have seen them. Maybe you can call one thing an incident, maybe two things can be misunderstanding, but if seven-eight things happen with one particular guy in the last three-four months, then it is clearly intentional.
“This is what I felt. I have nothing else to add, I hope you all do well, pray for me. And I have one request to make to everyone, please remember me, don’t forget me. Take care everyone, thank you.”