Former captain Mashrafee bin Murtaza exchanged some heated words with coach Jamie Siddons on Tuesday following a recent comment of the Australian about his fitness.
They fell apart after the coach told reporters on Sunday that he had no interest in Mashrafee, who is not in the World Cup squad and was yet to regain his fitness.
He made the comments a day after Mashrafee had returned to competitive cricket with the Dhaka Premier League match between arch-rivals Abahani and Mohammedan.
Siddons mocked Mashrafee by saying his return to the game bore no significance to him, despite the bowler completing his full quota of 10 overs to claim 1-55 and grab two catches.
Mashrafee was disheartened by the comments and said in a newspaper interview that he had never asked Siddons to take an interest in him. Masharfee also pointed out that Siddons is just an employee here and he on the other hand is the one who plays for the country.
Siddons demanded an explanation on Tuesday on the side line of national team’s practice session which further deteriorated their relationship.
He took Mashrafee at the indoor complex, locked the door and had a heated exchange with the former skipper. Coming out from the indoor, Mashrafee said that Siddons had no right to talk about his fitness.
‘He is not supposed to certify whether I am fit or not. There is a physiotherapist to do that,’ a dejected Mashrafee told reporters.
‘I was told by the physicians that they will see if I can bowl with the full run up or not by February 7 and will make an assessment on my fitness,’ he said.
After the heated conversation Siddons claimed that the attempt of Mashrafee to be in the side is unrealistic and the paceman is unwilling to understand the reality.
‘He has been upset since he was left out. I was trying to explain the situation, make sure where he stood. He was wondering why he is training but I told him that even though he is out of the 15 and injured, we still need him,’ said Siddons.
‘Why would he be upset by that statement? I’ve got to focus on the 15 players in the squad. It is not my job to look after him, it is the physio’s job and the bowling coach’s job,’ said Siddons.
