‘Shakib could have messaged Tamim or spoken for a minute’ – Mashrafe Mortaza provides solution on Shakib-Tamim row

Former Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza has unleashed a scathing attack on the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for their handling of Tamim Iqbal's case leading up to the much-anticipated World Cup 2023. The saga unfolded when Tamim, found himself excluded from Bangladesh's World Cup squad due to his adamant refusal to bat in the lower middle order, a decision reportedly influenced by a high-ranking BCB official.

Mashrafe, who had led the Tigers during their 2019 World Cup campaign, minced no words as he addressed the controversy on his official Facebook page. Known for his unwavering leadership on the field, he opined that the onus of handling such a crucial issue should have rested squarely on the shoulders of the team captain, Shakib Al Hasan, and the Bangladesh team management. He suggested a simple solution,

“As the captain, Shakib could have messaged Tamim or spoken for a minute, saying, 'I have this plan, I'll discuss it with you later.' I think that would have resolved the entire issue here," Mashrafe said in a video posted on his Facebook page.

The former captain expressed his bewilderment that the directive regarding the southpaw's batting position and potential exclusion from the first game came from within the BCB hierarchy rather than from key cricketing decision-makers such as the coach, captain, or team selectors, who ultimately determine the playing XI. The 39-year-old argued that it would have been more logical to communicate this decision after the official squad announcement or a couple of days before the opening match.

“According to my cricket knowledge, this instruction of batting in the middle order or skipping the first game should have come from coach, captain or a selector who will go with the team. Not from any BCB official. They could have said it after announcing the squad or two days before the first game. I don’t understand the reason behind telling this to Tamim before announcing the squad,” he stated.

Shakib calls Tamim Iqbal’s action ‘Childish’

This scathing critique from the former Bangladesh all-rounder comes in the wake of a verbal exchange between Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal. Shakib, in a candid assessment, had labeled the Bangladesh opener's actions as "childish" and had openly criticized him for prioritizing personal preferences over the team's needs. He also pointed out the 34-year-old's reluctance to be flexible with his batting role.

As Bangladesh prepares for their first warm-up match against Sri Lanka in Guwahati and their opening contest against Afghanistan on October 6, the team faces both on-field challenges and off-field controversies. The cricketing world now eagerly awaits how this drama unfolds on the grand stage of the World Cup 2023.