Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has opened up about the Tamim Iqbal issue, which is circulating in the country after the announcement of the World Cup squad. There were many rumours that Shakib had a hand in the exclusion of Tamim from the squad. Shakib dismisses all the rumours but he obviously doesn’t want unfit players on the team.

“If I give an example, Mahmudullah Riyad bhai was not in the team. Now he comes to the World Cup team suddenly. He played in the New Zealand series. He didn’t contribute to the team according to his capability. He had the perfect stage to do more. But everyone noticed his dedication, responsibilities, and his desire to play for the team. So there is a difference,” Shakib told T-Sports in an interview on Wednesday night.

“Team selection is not my responsibility. In that case, I could have announced and given the team one day after the Asia Cup. This is a process actually. There is a lot to think about, there are a lot of facts to consider. Not only the performance on the field, off-field, dressing room, team meeting, atmosphere – there are many things to consider before team selection. And the truth is I am not involved in anything.”

Tamim said in a video on his Facebook page that he was asked to miss the first match of the World Cup against Afghanistan and if he plays, he will have to bat down the order. This triggered Tamim because he never played in a lower position except in the opening slot. Tamim said that he felt he was being given obstacles intentionally and that’s why he decided to opt out of the World Cup squad.

But Shakib does not see anything wrong with the proposal to bat in the middle order instead of opening. Shakib added, “I had no discussion about it. I don’t from where this question comes from. And if someone says this, I’m sure he’s an authorized person and this was discussed previously so that both sides remained clear. I don’t think there is anything wrong with it. I’m sure no one will say this for anyone's bad. If someone has said this, he has said it thinking about the team. There are so many things that can happen around a match regarding the combinations and others. If someone wants to clarify these things in advance, I don't think there is anything wrong with the discussion. If someone has offered it, is there anything wrong with it? Or no such proposal can be made at all? To whom I would say, OK, you do whatever you want. Team first or individual first?”

In this regard, Shakib cites the example of India captain Rohit Sharma. “A player like Rohit Sharma moved from No. 7 to opening and has scored 10,000 runs. Is it a big problem if he sometimes plays at No. 3 or 4 or doesn't bat? It seems childish to me… ‘My bat, I’ll be the one playing with it. No one else can play.’ This is the thing. Anyone should be willing to play anywhere as the team needs. Team First. What you do individually, makes a hundred or two hundred but if the team loses, doesn't make any difference. What do you do with personal achievements? Earn your own name? Does that mean just thinking about yourself? You are not thinking about the team at all.

“People do not understand these points. A proposal was given, why? The proposal was given thinking about the team. Maybe this would be good for the team in this way. That’s why the proposal was given. So, what’s wrong here? Of course, it should be discussed by him, ‘I can. I can do that. Tell me what you want, I’ll try my best to do it for the team.’ Then you’re a team man. Unless you’re not a team man. You’re playing for individual records, success, individual name, and fame, not for the team,” Shakib further said.

Shakib also cites the example of one of the most successful captain in international cricket MS Dhoni who says unfit players should not play in the team. However, Shakib says if the things are like New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, who will miss the first two matches of the upcoming World Cup but will play all the matches after this, then Shakib has no problem regarding Tamim. “I had no discussion about this subject. Particular player, medical team or selector – there was no discussion with anyone. The decision was taken by the board fully. Obviously, there are opinions of everyone, but I had no discussion regarding this particular subject.

“My words are not important. Maybe people have doubt about me, my capability or capacity. MS Dhoni wins everything, he has knowledge, and sense, I’m sure no one from Bangladesh cricket has better knowledge regarding this. Because we never play to that level and face those challenges. He says, ‘If a player is not fit, but he is playing, then he’s cheating the team, the country every time.’ I think it should be agreed. Not only Tamim, I will say the same thing for any player.

“If I give the example of Kane Williamson, he won’t play the first two matches and then he’ll start playing. If I know something like this, OK, I have no problem with it. But if I don’t know which match will he play, I will come to know only on the matchday morning, then it will be difficult for me to select the team. I don’t think this kind of player is needed in the team,” Shakib further said.