The rift between Tamim and Shakib Al Hasan has been the talk of the town since Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan mentioned it in an interview with Cricbuzz.
As he entered the press conference room at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Sunday (February 26), Bangladesh ODI captain Tamim Iqbal appeared to be ready for the questions related to the rift.
“I was prepared since yesterday,” Tamim began. “I have never seen so many journalists in one room. I knew these questions would come. It would have been very easy for me to say “no comments, lets move forward”, but I think it was important to give my message to the journalists and fans. This is why I was happy to answer.”
While Tamim did not deny the president’s comments, he did state that things are fine between the two players on the field.
“The important thing is when Shakib and I put on the Bangladesh jersey, when we are giving our best, if we are helping each other when we are leading the teams, nothing else matters. Whatever anyone is saying, whether we have coffee together, these things don’t matter I can assure you that I always get his help as an ODI captain, and I am always there if he needs any suggestions in the Test team. When we bat together, or when we are celebrating his wicket, its absolutely normal,” said Tamim.
“Everyone is my friend. I have dinner with Taskin, Taijul, Mithun, Shanto, Mushfiq. It is a professional world where your relations won’t be the same with everyone. It is exactly in our team. What matters most is our motive when we are out in the field,” he said.
