Head of fact-finding committee Sheikh Mohammad Aslam slammed the majority of the national team squad for lacking “dedication and patriotism” while playing for the country. The former star national footballer also blamed the “alcohol and smoking culture” within the Bangladesh squad.
Recently, a three-member fact-finding committee was formed comprising Aslam, Elias Hossain and Azmal Hossain Tapan to investigate Bangladesh’s poor display in the Saff Championship and the Bangabandhu Gold Cup. The Bengal Tigers crashed out of the Saff Championship in the group stages before losing to a semi-professional Bahrain Under-23 side in the semi-finals of the Bangabandhu Gold Cup.
And yesterday, the committee submitted its report to the Bangladesh Football Federation in which many “disappointing, unexpected and unethical information” regarding the national players were drawn up.
“We have been trying to pull out the truth from the inside. We took some time so that we could get all the facts right. We have submitted a full report to the BFF president (Kazi Salahuddin),” Aslam informed the media yesterday at the BFF House.
“I think the players were not focused to win the matches. They lacked dedication and patriotism. They were more concerned about transfer window during the Saff football. They were also quoted to have said, ‘Why should we give our best for the national team when we get more facilities from the club?’. It was totally unexpected,” said Aslam.
“There is another fact that was revealed. And it is no doubt a stain in our football heritage. Most of the players in the team are addicted to alcohol. Many also smoke. If they consume these regularly, it will never be possible for them to give their best on the pitch,” he added.
Aslam also expressed disappointment with the antics of temperamental national winger Zahid Hossain, who was found drunk and out of control before a group match in the Bangabandhu Gold Cup.
“What he had done during his stay in the camp can never be forgiven. We recommend severe punishment for him. Besides that, the majority of the team, 60-70 percent, are rotten and defeated soldiers. It is not possible to win wars with them any more. So we (committee) recommend them (BFF) to find a way to bypass them and bring young footballers to the national side,” he added.
The national team management committee will now sit for a meeting and take a decision based on the fact-finding committee’s report. Due course of action will only be taken after the national team management committee’s decision is approved by the executive committee.