DHAKA, April 29, 2019 (BSS)—Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan Papon termed Shakib Al Hasan’s absence during the team’s World Cup photo session today at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium as a disappointing one.
He however didn’t want to take any action regarding this matter right at the moment, considering the team will leave the country for the Tri-nation series in Ireland and ICC Cricket World Cup on May 1.
“There is no question (to tolerate it) but the team is going to leave the country day after tomorrow, so I don’t want to tell anything regarding this,” the BCB president said here today.
The team however had held their last practice session today at the country after which captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza addressed the media.
There was official lunch for the World-cup bound cricketers with the board president and the directors as well the photo session. Shakib neither was present in the practice session nor did he make himself available for the official lunch and photo session, much to the surprise of many.
Shakib returned to country on Sunday night from Indian Premier League (IPL) for the national commitment. He however had come to meet his teammates during the practice session but went to home before the jersey unveiling and team photo session.
“It’s really disappointing since there was team photo session. When I came here I called him (Shakib) over his phone. He said that he is in Bangladesh and was in Mirpur but had gone to home. I however didn’t know when he came back to country from India. He said he will meet me at night,” Papon said.
“However I asked the team management whether Shakib was informed about the team photo session and they said that Shakib knew about it. I hoped him here but it is disappointing that he wasn’t.”
But the BCB chief didn’t think that the matter of Shakib’s absence will put any impact on team’s harmony.
“I think the players are used to it (about his absence). It is rather unfortunate for him that he can’t be in the photo frame of World Cup team.”