Sakib al Hasan is known for his outspokenness and his monosyllabic reply to many questions, still the manner in which he lambasted his team-mates after Bangladesh’s nine run defeat to Zimbabwe in the first one-day international on Wednesday came as a big shock and surprise to many. After his gallant batting effort proved futile, Sakib, in his post match analysis of the defeat, also questioned the selection of the team – which is unbecoming of a captain as he was a part of it. Sakib, who scored 63 runs and was involved in two crucial run-outs before he was out just 15 runs away from the win, made it very clear that he had no say in the squad selection and said he did not expect them to win. Here are the excerpts from his post-match press briefing.
Q: Is it Zimbabwe’s win or Bangladesh’s loss?
Sakib: I think they have bowled well, we should have batted better. I won’t say we fielded well, but our batting was pretty ordinary.
Q: Was there any pressure?
Sakib: We were 80-1, needing 120 odd runs in 30 overs, I don’t think any batsman should have felt any pressure at this situation.
Q: Has that become a custom, losing the first match to Zimbabwe in every series?
Sakib: Frankly, we played very poor cricket, especially batting and nothing else. Win or loss, it can happen at the end of the day. But we have to keep our basics right.
Q: What is your explanation about four-run outs?
Sakib: I can’t say what happened to Junaed. I can only say about those in which I was involved. Shuvo Bhai [Shorawardi Shuvo] started running just after hitting the ball. The moment I said ‘no’, it was too late. About the second one, I think it would be a run if Mashrafee Bhai (Mashrafee bin Murtaza] had run fast. I did not see the last run-out.
Q: Why running between the wickets was so poor?
Sakib: It’s tough to say. It wasn’t so poor until today.
Q: How different you feel in today’s press conference than the ones against New Zealand?
Sakib: I am not really feeling anything bad [laugh]. To be honest if we play like this we will lose. Every player one should do his job correctly. It’s true that I could not finish off the game. Apart from this I did not make any mistake. That’s why I did not feel anything bad.
Q: What about fielding?
Sakib: We had our best fielders sitting out the match. Those who played maybe they are not good enough, at least not capable like the ones who missed out. Naeem and Roqibul are our two best fielders, but they did not play.
Q: Do you think fielding will be like this if this team continues?
Sakib: I don’t think we can expect anything from this team fielding-wise. Selectors, coach and who else are there have got to get a solution.
Q: Are you ready to take any blame for the run outs?
Sakib: I don’t think I had any fault. The ball was on the edge of 30-yard circle. It could easily be a run.
Q: Do you think Bangladesh were complacent at some stage?
Sakib: No.
Q: Do you think it is a wake-up call ahead of the World Cup?
Sakib: I don’t know if it is a wake-up call or not. But if we continue to play like this, there is every chance for us to lose many more matches.
Q: Do you feel the necessity of any change in the line-up?
Sakib: I don’t know. There are people to think about it.
Q: What about the wicket?
Sakib: Wicket was good when we batted. If we had batted first we would have been dismissed for 180 runs because the ball was turning. The ball did not turn that much in the second half and it was coming nicely onto the bat.
Q: Did you have any say in the team selection?
Sakib: Obviously I had some role. But it should have been more.
Q: Who would have been in you team?
Sakib: I should not disclose it, should I? But as captain I wanted everyone to do well. Everybody should play to his ability. You cannot expect more than that.
Q: Do you think an inconsistent batsman who happened to be a poor fielder deserves a place in the team?
Sakib: It’s very tough. I don’t like to talk about the team more?
Q: You said earlier that you did not want to be captain. It seems you are still not very satisfied?
Sakib: Right, I am not satisfied really.
Q: Why?
Sakib: There are many reasons. I cannot say everything today.
Q: Which team would you liked to pick?
Sakib: I have that deep inside me.
