DHAKA, June 16, 2019 (BSS) – Opener Tamim Iqbal lashed out at the critics of Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, questioning ‘what have they done in their lives’ as they suggested the Bangladesh captain to withdraw himself from the playing XI for the sake of team’s benefit.
Amongst the critics, former Indian pacer Ajit Agarkar is the one who in expert opinion indicated Mashrafe’s performance is the reason for Bangladesh’s downfall and for him, pacer Rubel Hossain had to sit out.
Tamim who also has been criticized for his poor run of form didn’t mention the name of Agarkar but made a well-directed bouncer, questioning Agarkar’s cricketing career.
“This is important to know the people who are talking about it,” Tamim said during a press conference when asked how the team saw the criticism.
“I will not talk about myself..let me talk about Mashrafe bhai. I have told in an interview earlier those who are writing about this or talking about this, they should think about what he has been doing for Bangladesh cricket for the last 15-16 years.
Tamim said Mashrafe deserves respect for him contribution towards the Bangladesh cricket.
“[They say] ‘he’s unfit’. If he is unfit now, then he has been unfit for the last 10 years — his knees were never okay. We are talking about a person by holding his hand we have reached this far.
“I think it is very unfortunate because of his contribution behind the Bangladesh team and bringing the team to this stage and to make comments like these is very unfair. I think he deserves much more respect than he is getting.”
“I don’t care what other people are saying. There are some foreign cricketers who said some things, I’ve heard. What have they done in their lives? That is the big question. What have they done that they can talk about a person like this.
“To tell the truth, it is not important to me what people outside the country are saying — everyone has their opinion and they can express it — but people of the country should understand that when they are going to speak about Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, They have to remember what he has given to the country.”
“It shouldn’t be that you will be with the player only when he is playing well; you should also be by his side when he is going through a bad patch. In a mega event like this not every player plays well. I don’t know all of what is being said or written, but I know a bit. I hope that people don’t talk much about this. They should remember what he has done for Bangladesh cricket before writing these things.”