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Bangladesh's captain, Shakib Al Hasan, has acknowledged that his public feud with senior batsman Tamim Iqbal leading up to the 2023 World Cup may have adversely impacted the team's morale. This admission comes in the wake of Bangladesh's fifth consecutive defeat in the tournament, an 87-run loss to the Netherlands in Kolkata on October 28.
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The controversy originated when Tamim was omitted from Bangladesh's 15-member World Cup squad due to fitness concerns. However, Tamim later claimed that he voluntarily opted out after allegedly being instructed by a Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) member to bat in the middle order. In response, Shakib launched a fiery verbal attack on Tamim during an explosive interview, characterizing his behavior as immature.
"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," said Shakib.
After Bangladesh's crushing loss to the Netherlands at the Eden Gardens, Shakib addressed questions about his public clash with Tamim. He described Bangladesh's performance in the ongoing World Cup in India as their worst ever, casting a critical light on the team's overall campaign.
"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 Bangladesh captain said.
Shakib himself has struggled in the tournament, particularly with the bat. Across five innings, his highest score has been 40 runs. However, his left-arm spin has been relatively successful, accounting for seven wickets.
The rift between two key players, Shakib and Tamim, has raised concerns about the team's unity and focus during the World Cup. The admission of potential morale impact underscores the importance of team harmony and the need to resolve internal conflicts to ensure a more successful future for Bangladesh cricket.
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