Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto had reflected on the team’s World Cup record, the BCB’s India travel concerns, and the Tamim Iqbal controversy.
Bangladesh Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has acknowledged that his side has not delivered consistent performances in ICC World Cups, even as the team deals with growing off-field distractions ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup. Shanto said the players are trying to stay calm, but admitted it is not easy amid uncertainty over travel to India.
On Sunday, January 4, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced that it would not send the national team to India for next month’s T20 World Cup, citing security concerns and government advice. The decision followed IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders releasing pacer Mustafizur Rahman at the BCCI’s instruction.
While the BCCI did not directly link the decision to current India-Bangladesh relations, it stated that the move was taken due to the broader situation at the time.
Speaking to the media, Shanto openly reflected on Bangladesh’s past World Cup campaigns.
“First of all, if you look at our World Cup results, we have never really played consistently good cricket. Last year, we did play well, but there were even better opportunities and we could not capitalise on them,” Shanto told the media.
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He added that players are making a conscious effort to focus only on cricket despite the surrounding noise.
“I feel that players still try to keep those distractions aside and perform for the team. Of course, it would be better if these things did not happen, but this is beyond our control,” Shanto added.
The Bangladesh captain also addressed a separate controversy involving former skipper Tamim Iqbal. Shanto said he was deeply hurt by a social media comment made by BCB director M Najmul Islam, which described Tamim as an ‘Indian agent’. The remark drew heavy criticism across the cricketing community.
“Very sad, very sad because such comments were made about a cricketer, a former captain and in my opinion, one of Bangladesh’s most successful cricketers whom we grew up watching,” Shanto said.
He stressed the importance of respect for players, past and present.
“As players, we expect respect, whether someone is a former captain, a regular player, successful or not. At the end of the day, a cricketer hopes for respect,” Shanto added.
The comments come at a time when Bangladesh cricket remains under intense scrutiny, both for its on-field performances and the growing tensions surrounding its participation in global events.
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