Follow UsThe former Bangladeshi captain, Shakib Al Hasan has asserted that comments from Bangladesh Cricket Board president, Nazmul Hasan have ignited a rift between him and Tamim Iqbal.
A lot happened in the build-up to the 50-over World Cup in India last year. One of their most experienced batters and captain of the ODI side months before the World Cup, Tamim announced a sudden retirement from international cricket three before the silverware tournament. A day later, he took it back at the behest of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Tamim was then chucked out of Bangladesh’s squad on grounds of fitness, post which the left-hander stated that he would have recovered in time if given a chance. Shakib Al Hasan led Bangladesh in the World Cup and the Asia Cup preceding it.
Among all this, Nazmul Hasan stated that the two senior cricketers were at loggerheads which became the focal point of all conversations during Bangladesh’s preparations for the World Cup.
Now, in a documentary aired by Bongo, a leading OTT platform in Bangladesh, Shakib claimed that Hasan’s remarks made the situation worse.
"This thing came to focus after Papon (Nazmul Hasan) Bhai spoke about it and it created a lot of problems in the relationship and created this situation. I think some people had the intention to keep it (the rift) in focus and tried to make it the main point (of discussion) rather than the cricketing side," Shakib said.
The all-rounder further stated that his differences with Tamim didn’t have any bearing on the team.
"For quite some time we were not talking a lot. [But] it is not right that we were not on talking terms. The thing is, there was a time when we used to be together all the time but that relationship was not there for quite some time. It is very natural. I got married and he got married, we were staying separately in different places and so there was lesser time between us. We were staying in the same building on different floors [earlier] so certainly that closeness starts to diminish as people start having separate family lives and over time [the relationship] changed due to our busy schedules.
"Later what happened is that in the field when we met we have spoken whenever we need to talk and I don't think we need to have lot of conversation between us apart from that," he added.
“Till we played together and shared the dressing room together I don't think any incident took place that would harm the team. We tried to contribute whether we were talking or not, there was no kind of problem inside the field or in the dressing room," he told in the documentary.
Shakib also clarified his statement on Tamim last year where he emphasized the veteran batter to be irresponsible. "I did not try to give any message through that interview as it was certainly spontaneous. I felt that before going to the World Cup, I should clear everything so that people know what actually happened and why this kind of situation is created," he cleared.
If you’ve not downloaded the Cricket.com app yet, you’re missing out — big time. Play Fantasy on Cricket.com NOW! Download the App here.