Bangladesh’s star all-rounder, Shakib Al Hasan, has opened up about the tension between himself and fellow cricketer Tamim Iqbal, attributing the discord to comments made by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Chief, Nazmul Hasan. The BCB chief’s remarks, which brought the rift into the public eye, have been a major talking point in Bangladeshi cricket over the past year. In a recent documentary aired by Bongo, a leading OTT platform in Bangladesh, Shakib discussed how Hasan’s comments escalated the situation.
The issue became prominent after Papon (Nazmul Hasan) Bhai’s comments, which caused a lot of problems in our relationship,
Shakib explained.
Some people seemed intent on keeping this rift in the spotlight rather than focusing on the cricket.
Tamim’s participation in the national squad has been sporadic due to a back injury, leading to his absence from both the Asia Cup 2023 and the Bangladesh World Cup squad. Earlier this year, Tamim posted a video on Facebook, suggesting that his exclusion was due to tensions with BCB officials rather than fitness issues.
In the documentary, Tamim downplayed the impact of their relationship on the team, while Shakib offered a different perspective.
For some time, we weren’t talking much, but it’s not true that we were completely out of touch. We used to be very close, but over time, and with our separate family lives, that closeness faded,
Shakib said.
It’s natural; we got married, lived in different places, and had busy schedules.
Despite the personal distance, Shakib emphasized that their professional relationship remained functional.
On the field, we communicated whenever necessary. There was no need for extensive conversations beyond what was required for our roles in the team,
he noted.
Shakib also addressed concerns about their interactions, stating that there was no harm to the team.
There was nothing to make good or bad about our relationship. While we shared the dressing room, we focused on contributing to the team, whether we were talking or not. There were no issues on the field or in the dressing room,
he asserted.
Regarding a controversial interview ahead of last year’s World Cup, where he criticized Tamim’s responsibility, Shakib clarified his intentions.
I didn’t try to send any specific message through that interview; it was a spontaneous response. I felt it was important to clarify things before the World Cup so that people understood the situation,
he explained.
Shakib’s candid revelations in the documentary provide insight into the complexities of his relationship with Tamim and underscore the impact of external comments on their dynamic.
