Shafiqur Rahman Munna, Bangladesh’s head of delegation in Zimbabwe tour, took a swipe at the players for not showing enough commitment during the just-concluded tour.
‘I think some of them lacked commitment. They did not have the urge to play for the national side which is very disappointing,’ Munna told reporters on Saturday.
‘It seemed that some of them thought they are indispensable and that is the saddest part,’ added Munna, who is also a director of the Bangladesh Cricket Board.
Zimbabwe, returning to Test cricket after a six-year exile for political reasons, beat Bangladesh by 130 runs in the one-off match.
The home side also won the one-day international series 3-2, Bangladesh’s first limited-overs series loss to Zimbabwe in six years.
Munna will submit his report to the board soon where he is expected to mention certain issues that needed an immediate attention to bring the team back on track.
Munna said he requested the board to curb the captain’s power and make it mandatory for him to discuss with the selectors and the coach before finalising the playing eleven.
It was reported that Bangladesh captain Sakib al Hasan did not want batsman Mohammad Ashraful in the Test team but had to include him at the interference of selector Habibul Bashar and coach Stuart Law.
‘I think the captain should not finalise the playing eleven all on his own. He should discuss it with the selector and the coach and should explain his reasons for taking a certain player,’ he said.
He also criticised the players for not taking any suggestion from selector Habibul Bashar who was making his fourth tour to Zimbabwe.
Bashar and Munna at one stage of the tour was told not to use the dressing room as some players were not comfortable with their presence.
But Munna said it was a mistake.
‘Given the experience Bashar has about Zimbabwe I think they should have better asked for his advice,’ he said.
‘I will mention all these things in my report. I have a few other suggestions which now I cannot reveal to you guys right now.’ he said.
Munna hinted that the inability of manager Tanjeeb Ahsan Saad to handle the players properly will also occupy a large part of his report.
His report is expected to be discussed in the board meeting on September 5.
-With New Age input
