Bangladesh Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has slammed the country’s cricket director for calling Tamim Iqbal ‘India’s agent’. Iqbal had warned the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) against taking any decision in haste regarding their ongoing stand-off with the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India), stating that it could have long-term consequences for Bangladesh cricket.
However, his comments did not go down well with BCB director M Najmul Islam, who went on to label him ‘India’s agent’. In a Facebook post, Nazmul wrote, “This time, the people of Bangladesh witnessed, with their own eyes, the emergence of yet another proven Indian agent.”
Following his remarks, Shanto lashed out at Najmul for disrespecting one of the legends of Bangladesh cricket.
“Very sad, very sad, because such comments were made about a cricketer – a former captain, and in my opinion one of Bangladesh’s most successful cricketers whom we grew up watching. As players, we expect respect – whether someone is a former captain, a regular player, successful or not. At the end of the day, a cricketer hopes for respect. So such a comment from someone who is supposed to be our guardian is very difficult to accept. I completely reject it as a player,” Shanto was quoted as saying by PTI.
Shanto also said that the uncertainty surrounding his team’s participation in next month’s T20 World Cup in India is affecting the players’ psychological well-being, but that they are ‘acting’ as if ‘everything is OK’.
“But you’ll see that something always happens before every World Cup. I can say this from my experience of three World Cups – it does have an effect. Now, we act as if nothing affects us, that we are fully professional cricketers. You guys also understand that we are acting – it’s not easy,” Shanto added.
Shanto said that the players try to keep these distractions aside and perform for the team.
“I don’t know the details of how it happened, or how it could have been controlled. Still, I’d say that even acting in such circumstances is difficult. With the right mindset, if we go to the World Cup and play anywhere, we should focus on how to do our best for the team,” he concluded.
Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup in jeopardy
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has formally sent a second letter to the ICC outlining specific security concerns over travelling to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup, while reiterating its demand to shift Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka. The tournament begins on February 7, with Bangladesh scheduled to play four matches in India.
The stand-off intensified after Mustafizur Rahman was released from the IPL on BCCI instructions, citing unspecified developments, prompting Bangladesh to refuse to travel.
The issue has led to sustained exchanges between the BCB and the ICC, with the global body seeking clarity on the nature of the security threats while remaining publicly silent.
The BCB itself is divided, with one faction backing a hardline approach and another favouring continued dialogue with the ICC and Indian authorities, stressing the need for enhanced security. While the ICC has not indicated any venue change, the BCB maintains that the governing body has shown willingness to assess its concerns.
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