Bangladesh ODI captain Tamim Iqbal in clarification to the rift with Bangladesh Test and T20I skipper Shakib al Hasan said nothing else matters if things are right when on the field playing for the country.
Discussion in the cricket fraternity has been long and strong of Shakib and Tamim not being on talking terms and the latest interview of BCB president Nazmul Hasan authenticated the speculation.
BCB chief Nazmul in the interview had revealed many sensitive insights of the Bangladesh national dressing room, but it was the matter of Shakib-Tamim relation that made the most headlines.
Tamim appeared for the pre-England series captain's press conference in Mirpur Sunday and in the 27-minute long interaction with media, the left-handed batter ensured to keep calm while answering the critical question.
It seemed as if Tamim had come prepared.
Tamim did not deny having an issue with Shakib, rather clarified that it is all fine as long as they are doing fine when playing on the field.
“The most important thing is we both try to give our best when we are in the middle of the field wearing the Bangladesh jersey. As a captain, I always get support from Shakib during the game and it is the same when he is captain in Test matches. We are always there with suggestion for each other. I think nothing else should matter if these things are right,” said Tamim.
BCB boss Nazmul in the interview had revealed that he had spoken to Shakib and Tamim and felt that it is not easy to settle the issues.
However, as it has always been, the reasons for Shakib and Tamim not being in good terms remained unestablished.
“This is not a healthy dressing room; this I can guarantee you. This thing (rift between Shakib and Tamim), 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 (between them) at the moment. This is my observation. 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 that it won't be there during the match,” said Nazmul in an interview to Cricbuzz published Saturday.
