Shakib Al Hasan opens up on pre-World Cup 2023 clash with Tamim Iqbal
After the defeat against the Netherlands, Shakib acknowledged that his very public disagreement with senior batter Tamim Iqbal before the CWC 2023 possibly affected the team’s morale.
“It might have affected the team. It’s not unusual. You don’t know what an individual has in his mind but I am not disagreeing with the fact that (the controversy) might have affected us,” Shakib said during the post-match press conference.
The dispute arose when Tamim, citing fitness issues, withdrew from Bangladesh’s 15-member World Cup squad. However, he later claimed that he had voluntarily opted out after a Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) member suggested that he bat in the middle order, rather than his usual opening position. This revelation led to a verbal exchange between Shakib and Tamim, with Shakib characterizing Tamim’s conduct as childish during an interview.
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Shakib’s assessment of Bangladesh’s CWC 2023 campaign
Shakib also offered an assessment of Bangladesh’s campaign in the 2023 World Cup, deeming it their worst ever. The team’s performance did not meet the expectations of fans and experts, and they struggled to find their footing in the tournament.
“You can say that (this is Bangladesh’s worst ever World Cup campaign) and I wouldn’t say otherwise. We were pretty underprepared coming into this tournament but we can’t use that as an excuse,” the 36-year-old concluded.
Shakib’s underwhelming performance
Shakib’s individual performance in the ongoing quadrennial event mirrored Bangladesh’s overall struggles in the tournament. The seasoned all-rounder had a forgettable run, particularly with the bat. In five innings, The Magura District-born cricketer managed to score only 61 runs. While contributing with his left-arm spin, he claimed seven wickets. Shakib’s subpar performance was emblematic of Bangladesh’s larger woes, and both he and the team aspired to regain their form in the upcoming fixtures to enhance their World Cup campaign.
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