Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan has been irked with Shakib Al Hasan’s actions (or the lack, thereof) on the final day of the national camp. The Tigers, who are preparing for the forthcoming tri-nation series in Ireland and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, finished the camp at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Monday. The day was filled with other activities including Bangladesh’s World Cup jersey unveiling, team photo session and activities with the team sponsor.
Shakib was exempted from practice on the day. He had come to meet the team members at Mirpur only to rush away without participating in any of the activities, not even the team photo. The Bangladesh all-rounder had returned home from money-spinning Indian Premier League T20 on Sunday.
BCB boss Nazmul, upon arriving for the jersey unveiling and the photo session had learned that the Bangladesh ODI vice-captain had left without taking part in the official photo session.
“He was informed of the team photo session. He did not have practice. The team is leaving so he should have been part of the team photo. We had expected him to be present,” said Nazmul to the media at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.
“It is very unfortunate, what more I can say? I inquired about Shakib once I reached the stadium. I called him to ask where he was. He said he left. I said let’s meet, he said he will come to my home at night,” the BCB chief added.
The incident has affected the players too though, for understandable reason none of them wanted to show their emotions on record. The behaviour from Shakib has come as a shock, given the fact that no one could find a valid reason for the cricketer to leave his colleagues at such an important time and making such an important memorabilia-the team photo of World Cup- incomplete.
Nazmul believes the team members are used to with Shakib’s behaviour towards the team and that, it is his bad luck for not being able to be part of an official World Cup team photo.
“I think they [other members of the team] are used to it. I cannot say anything else. It is Shakib’s bad luck that he has not been able to be a part today [yesterday],” said Nazmul.
Queried whether if the BCB, like the players, are also used to such actions from Shakib, Nazmul said, “No way. It is that we do not want to do anything as the team will leave on the day after tomorrow [Wednesday].”
The BCB had extended Shakib’s NoC for the ongoing IPL 2019. The board initially had called upon Shakib to return and join the camp on April 23 as he was not playing any games for his IPL side Sunriseres Hyderabad. However, with a few of the other overseas cricketers leaving to join their respective national camps, it created a scope for the southpaw to take the field in the playing XI.
