Beleaguered Bangla-desh skipper Sakib al Hasan finally came to terms with the fact that he has played it wrong by publicly criticising the selectors and not seeking a leave before skipping training.
Sakib cleared the smoke in a meeting with the selectors and Bangladesh Cricket Board chief executive officer Manzur Ahmed on Friday and said that the much scrutinised events which have unfolded over the last few days were the result of a communication gap.
‘At the meeting, we all felt that it was only a case of miscommunication,’ Sakib told reporters after the meeting.
‘But, yes, the less I talk the better,’ said the all-rounder, who had castigated the selectors for not discussing the squad for the Zimbabwe series with him before it announcement.
‘There is a huge scope for improvement in this aspect [communication skills]. If I can improve this, it will help foster a better understanding between us which is very important,’ said Sakib.
Sakib assured that his recent antics will not affect his future relationship with the selectors.
‘I don’t think there should be any problems,’ said Sakib. ‘I think everything is alright because I respect them a lot and they all know it. ’
Sakib also defended his position regarding his absence from the first training session under new coach Stuart Law without prior permission, which drew widespread criticism from all corners.
The skipper did not feel it necessary to report to the coach the following morning and was rather busy shooting a commercial for a yogurt called Shakti Doi.
‘I had asked for a leave while I was in England. I was told that the team will fly off to South Africa and I would join them in Zimbabwe,’ he said.
‘I did not know that I had to take a fresh leave after the change of plans. I never thought it would create such an issue,’ said Sakib.
The skipper insisted that he needed a break from cricket, with a grueling schedule of matches since February taking its toll on him.
‘I think I genuinely needed a break for seven days. I was physically and mentally tired and so I wanted to stay away from the game for sometime,’ he said.
‘I felt I needed a break and I felt that the board would also agree with me,’ said Sakib.
CEO Manzur said Sakib regretted the miscommunication and has apologised to the selectors.
‘I think it is a case of miscommunication and misrepresentation,’ said Manzur.
‘He regretted making those comments [against the selectors] and also said he has no complaint against the squad that they have picked for the Zimbabwe series,’ said Manzur.
‘He accepted the fact that it is the responsibility of the selectors to pick the squad and that they did not always need to discuss their decisions with him. I think he is still young and we should give him time,’ he added.
Sakib reached the ground at round 9:30am and spent around half-an-hour in the dressing room while the rest of the players were training at the ground.
He left the dressing room at 10:00am for the field and shook hands with coach Law, who at the time was busy working with Junaed Siddique.
The two shared a friendly chat at the end of the session. Sakib told reporters that the coach opted to have a meeting with him and other players in the evening. He was later introduced to fielding coach Jason Swift and new physio Bhivav Singh.
Sakib entered the CEO’s room for the meeting at 11:00am with vice-captain Tamim Iqbal at his side.
-With New Age input
