‘Players are not robots’- Russell Domingo defends Bangladesh team after BCB President’s criticism

Bangladesh team has been receiving massive criticism after suffering a six-run defeat against Scotland in their opening game of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. Having defeated teams like Australia and New Zealand in their recent assignments, the Bangla Tigers were expected to beat the Scottish side pretty easily. However, that wasn’t the case as the associate side put up an exceptional fight.

While several Bangladesh players failed in the game, veteran trio of Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah particularly came under the scanner. All three batters got runs but their dismal strike rate meant the required run rate went up in the end overs. Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan wasn’t happy with the trio either. He didn’t even shy away from questioning the team management for their approach and strategy against Scotland.

”A team can lose but the approach should be right. The approach and the attitude were not right. way our batsmen batted, that included Shakib, Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah, we lost the match there. We will not be able to chase in this format if we display such batting. Every batsmen of this team knows about this. I think their approach and strategy were not right at all,” Nazmul was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

I have full faith in them: Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo

While Nazmul isn’t happy with his side’s performance, Bangladesh’s head coach Russell Domingo has a different point of view. Although Domingo refused to comment on the BCB boss comment, he did defend his team, saying players aren’t robots.

“I am not here to talk about the president. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I am not criticizing any of my players. I have full faith in them. What’s outside the team, isn’t important for me at the moment. My focus is very much on my team, and making sure we back them 100% tomorrow,” said Domingo.

“If it goes for four, everyone says great shot. If he gets out, everyone says it’s a poor shot. That’s the nature of T20 cricket. Players have to be allowed to make decisions in the field. They are not robots. They are human beings. They will get things wrong. But we have to learn from those mistakes,” he added.