Lack of cooperation from the key players that hindered the team-work prompted national captain Mushfiqur Rahim to resign, revealed
Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan Thursday.
Mushfiq left the entire cricket fraternity shell-shocked when he announced his resignation at the end of ongoing series against Zimbabwe as he had not given a slight indication of it to anyone at anytime during the troublesome tour.
The decision doubled the misery on the Tigers who lost their successive ODI series to Zimbabwe after some average performances in the drawn Test series.
Mushfiq took the responsibility on his shoulders, although his performance was not as bad as some of his illustrious team-mates. This was one of the reasons for his decision that surprised everyone including the BCB president Nazmul.
Nazmul said he had already talked to Mushfiq and was shocked to know that the team lacked team spirit. Mushfiq also pointed a finger at some senior players who did not cooperate with him as much as they should, according to the BCB president.
‘He said he could not provide the right leadership as there was no teamwork,’ said Nazmul. ‘He started weeping after just a few words and could not say anything more.’
‘We asked our representatives in Zimbabwe to start their investigation regarding this issue to find out the exact reason.
‘After they return we need to find out what prompted him to make this impromptu decision, or whether there was any instigating factor that compelled him to make such a decision needs to come to light as that is very important,’ he added,
‘If we find that there is someone for whom the nation had to suffer or our captain had to take such a decision than he will be taken to task,’ said Nazmul.
BCB insiders added that Mushfiq was clearly unhappy with the approach and attitude of Sakib al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal, the former captain and vice-captain respectively, whose performances were below-par throughout the series.
Tamim missed the first Test for injury but returned for the second Test and played all three one-dayers without scoring a fifty in any of the innings. His performance in the third one-dayer was a pain for eyes as the opener took 70 balls to score 32 runs.
Sakib’s performance in the first Test was very indifferent and it was nowhere near to his best in the second Test though he scored fifties in both innings and took three vital wickets in the second innings.
He scored just 53 runs in three ODIs and took just one wicket, which was way behind his normal performance.
BCB president Nazmul felt that it was an emotional outburst of the young Bangladeshi skipper who took over the hotseat after a similar result in Zimbabwe.
‘It can be an emotional outburst. Like all Bangladeshi fans he was also sad after losing against Zimbabwe,’ said Nazmul.
‘There is positive side in it as if someone decided to step down for not winning only proved the depth of desire to win,’ he said.
‘He could have easily held his position like a lot other players whom we have to pick despite them not being able to perform.
‘But in a foreign country after losing a series it was not a wise act to take such a decision without discussing with us,’ Nazmul said.
-With New Age input
