Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan has confirmed an ongoing rift between senior players Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan within the Bangladesh camp, revealing that “it is not a healthy dressing room” and that it’s “not easy to settle the issues” between the two.
Shakib and Tamim have been two of the most celebrated careers in Bangladesh cricket, but have also been at the receiving end of rumours about an underlying rift with each other. Both players have led the side at different points and different formats in their careers: Tamim retired from T20Is last year, but will captain the side in the ODIs against England. Shakib is the Test and T20I skipper.
Speaking to Cricbuzz, Nazmul Hasan opened up about the touched upon the dynamic between the two players, ahead of the upcoming home series against England, especially with the return of Chandika Hathurusingha as head coach.
“This is not a healthy dressing room, this I can guarantee you,” Nazmul said. “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 the two] 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 game.”
Nazmul also indicated at a grouping system within the Bangladesh camp, with players creating factions inside the setup and segregating themselves based on it. The BCB chief said that it’s a recent problem, but that could hinder the side’s growth if not handled soon.
“The biggest problem for Bangladesh cricket at the moment is this grouping and that is the reality,” he said. “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. Even in the 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.”
When asked about Shakib and Tamim again, and how two seniors, who are not on “talking terms”, could help in such a situation, Nazmul said that the two will have to find a way to communicate while being part of the same team.
“They [Shakib & 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 [against England] I want to change it [their equation] in the dressing room at least. What they do outside is not a concern for me.”
