Shakib Al Hasan's blunt take on 'Childish' teammate Tamim Iqbal
The Bangladesh cricket team is going through a troublesome phase, right before the start of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. In the final 15-man squad that the Bengal Tigers announced, there was no space for star opening batsman Tamim Iqbal, while Shakib Al Hasan was named the captain of the side. The exit of Tamim from the team left many surprised, but according to Shakib, the management had few options but to axe Tamim, who is 'childish' and a player who plays for 'individual success over the team's'.
In a chat with a Bangladesh media outlet, Shakib took a swipe at Tamim and said, "Someone like Rohit Sharma built his career from No. 7 to opener, scoring 10,000-plus runs. If he sometimes bats at No. 3 or 4, would it be a big problem? It is totally childish. It is my bat; I will play. No one else can play. A player should bat in any position for the team. Team first. It doesn't make any difference if you have made 100 or 200 and the team loses. What can you do with personal achievement? You want to make a name for yourself?
He further added that "you are not thinking about the team at all. People don't understand these things. Why was the proposal given to him? It was for the team. What is wrong with that? You are a team player when you agree to such a proposal. Unless you are thinking along those lines, you are not a team player. You are playing for individual records, success, fame, and names. Not for the team.”