Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan has opened up on a possible rift between two captains in the national team dressing room – Test and T20 skipper Shakib al Hasan and ODI leader Tamim Iqbal.
Discussion in the cricket fraternity has been long and strong of Shakib and Tamim not being on talking terms and the latest interview of the BCB chief authenticated the speculation.
Nazmul's statement on Shakib and Tamim's relation came amid the return of Chandika Hathurusingha as the Bangladesh head coach and the board's intention to have a “healthy dressing room”.
After speaking to the two superstars, Nazmul admitted that it is not easy to settle the issues, but the reason behind the dispute remained unestablished.
“I can guarantee this is not a healthy dressing room,” Nazmul said in an interview with Cricbuzz published Saturday.
“It's not that I have not tried to sort it out. I have spoken with both of them and I felt that it is not easy to settle the issues at the moment.
“Both of them have been given one message - we don't know what is going on between you, but during a game or series that you are playing, these differences cannot come out. Both of them assured me that it won't be there during the game.”
The BCB boss is aware of the groupings in the dressing room and how it has affected performance in major tournaments like the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia last year.
The BCB boss urged to stop the groupings.
“The biggest problem for Bangladesh cricket at the moment is this grouping, and that is the reality. I don't have a problem with anything else. I am only scared about this grouping and I only came to know about it in recent times,” said Nazmul.
“Even in the T20 World Cup, what I have seen and heard despite not staying in their hotel...I cannot believe how it is possible. We have to put an end to it if we want to see a good future because one thing everyone needs to understand is that there is no scope for grouping.
“They (Shakib and Tamim) have to talk on the field and in the dressing room as well. The atmosphere of the dressing room was bad too but it improved a bit. From this series (upcoming home series against England) I want to change it (their relationship) in the dressing room at least. What they do outside is not a concern for me.”
