Bangladesh coach Phil Simmons has asked his players to avoid social media, focusing on cricket and staying clear of online criticism and racial abuse.
Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons has advised his players to avoid social media following a hostile reception at Dhaka airport. The national team returned from a mixed UAE tour, winning the T20I series 3-0 against Afghanistan but losing the ODI series by the same margin. Several players, including Mohammad Naim, faced criticism from fans, prompting social media responses.
Simmons also addressed racial abuse aimed at wicketkeeper-batter Jaker Ali, which occurred both online and at venues. He stressed that while players have the right to use social platforms personally, representing Bangladesh internationally requires restraint.
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“Okay. I’m glad you brought it up because, first of all, I don’t agree with players having anything to do with social media. It is your right as a person to be on social media, to say what you want on social media. But as an international player, as a national player for Bangladesh, my players should not be on there. I would say one thing, it is not nice to bring racial tones into anything to do with players. I don’t care where you’re from, the racial part of it against Jaker Ali I am disgusted with. That’s not nice. But I don’t want my players answering anything on social media,” Simmons was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
While the Bangladesh Cricket Board has not set formal restrictions, team management remains concerned about its impact on players’ mental well-being and performance.
Phil Simmons also defended captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who has faced criticism after recent poor results. Simmons noted that a captain’s performance cannot be judged solely on runs scored by the team.
“You can’t judge his captaincy on 200 runs at 198 and not chase him. Now, in the field you can judge his captaincy. And I think the captaincy in the field has been good. But winning games depends on your batsmen too. And if your batsmen don’t score the runs that is needed, then you’re going to be in trouble. So if I judge him on the field, I think he’s been good,” the coach said.
Bangladesh now turns attention to the ODI series against the West Indies.
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