Home ›› 27 Feb 2023 ›› Sport
It was supposed to be the press conference of Bangladesh One-Day International skipper Tamim Iqbal for their upcoming crucial series against England.
However, Bangladesh Cricket Board President Nazmul Hassan addressed the elephant in the room by stating in an interview that there was an apparent rift between Tamim and Shakib Al Hasan, which was evident for some time on and off the field, and everybody knew how the questions would turn out to be, that it was not going to be a typical pre-series press conference.
As expected, it was more about the friction between the two stalwarts than the actual matches starting from March 1. And the Bangladesh skipper did not hesitate to talk, mentioning that he was prepared for the flood of questions he would be asked.
“I was ready from yesterday (Saturday). I have never seen so many journalists in a press conference. But I was prepared and knew that these questions were coming,” he said on Sunday.
When discussing his relationship with Shakib, Tamim used the term ‘nothing else matters’ several times, saying that as long as they did their job on the field well, that phrase was the truth.
“The most important matter is whether Shakib and I are giving our 100 per cent while playing for Bangladesh. If I give my all, he gives his all, if I am leading the side and ask for any help from him and he helps me, and vice versa, then there is no value for anything else. Nothing else matters.
“As the captain, I guarantee that when I need him, he is there and I can assure that when I play Tests and he is leading the side, I will always be at his side when he needs me. This is the most important thing. Nothing else matters,” Tamim said on Sunday.
He went on to add, “When we are playing for Bangladesh and it’s alright on the field, then nothing else matters truly means nothing else matters.”
The Bangladesh ODI captain also stated that their on-field relationship is yet to be marred by off-field friction.
“If there was any problem there (on the field), I would have said something. But I have said that there is no problem here. When we bat together, it’s normal. We are playing together for 15-16 years, and when he (Shakib) gets a wicket, we celebrate together. Everything is completely normal,” Tamim insisted.
The BCB president had also stated that there was a clear problem of grouping in the Tigers’ dressing room created from the feud between the two heavyweights and that it was turning the dressing room atmosphere toxic. Tamim, though, denied both of those claims.
“I feel that the team’s environment is very good. Not just today, but for a long time. You have already seen the results. We have been good in ODIs for 5-6 years. We have won in our last 5-6 series. Whenever the dressing room is happy, it’s easier to earn these results. I don’t see any conflict. Everything is normal,” Tamim commented on the team’s atmosphere.
“I have been playing in the Bangladesh team for 17 years. Whenever the team is not doing well, then the term ‘grouping’ is used. I am a straightforward person. I didn’t see grouping 16 years back, or 10 years back, or now,” the Bangladesh ODI skipper’s words on the allegations of grouping.
Although, all the questions were not about Shakib as Tamim was also asked about the running joke stating that the left-handed opener gets injured before any important series, which came into the country’s cricketing conversation after he missed the India series due to a groin injury.
“If I have to listen to this after scoring 15 thousand runs, then it’s unfortunate. I have been playing for 17 years. My guess is that I played 90% of the matches. Maybe I missed 10% due to injuries. No cricketer wants to miss matches. What you are saying is unfortunate. I have nothing more to say,” Tamim, with words mixed with frustration, said.
