In close proximity to one another, Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan made their respective debuts. Shakib came in just a few months after Tamim did when they both made their debuts in the One-Day International format. Prior to Tamim, who made his debut in 2008, Shakib had made his debut in the Tests first.
The two of the biggest and most prominent young figures in Bangladesh cricket led the team to new heights thanks to their camaraderie. As a result of their falling out, it is as though a cracked mirror now reflects the murky environment that pervades the cricket fraternity.
Tamim and Shakib were the instigators, the assets of our cricket team that breathed fresh life into the cricket scene in the country. The nation of Bangladesh was propelled to new heights as a result of the collaboration of two young men who understood how to look their adversaries in the eye and deliver.
They were known to be the greatest of friends, and as individuals, they gushed in public about the connection that they shared. They went so far as to bet on one other’s abilities, entering into a number of partnerships in which they demonstrated how well they did while working together.
However, even the best things eventually come to an end. Even in the most gentlemanly of sports, things that take place in the locker room and in private talks have the potential to drive a wedge between teammates. In the world of cricket, a shattered relationship such as theirs is not the first of its kind, nor will it be the last.
Reportedly, it has been several years since they last spoke to one another in the capacity of ‘just friends.’
An explosive interview given by BCB president Nazmul Hassan this year highlighted the difficult relationship between the two parties, which brought the matter to the forefront of Bangladesh cricket. While their tense relationship may have been an open secret to many, the news had remained out of the public’s ears until this year.
“I can assure you that this changing room is not a healthy environment for you to be in. It’s not that I haven’t made an effort to resolve this issue (the divide between Shakib and Tamim), though. I have. “I spoke with both of them, but I got the impression that resolving the issue right now would not be an easy task,” the president of the BCB had previously stated.
Shakib is known for many things, but one of his strengths is his ability to keep his feelings in check and maintain his concentration on the task at hand, which allows him to perform at his highest level regardless of the emotional stress he is under off the field. As rumors of a rift inside the team’s dressing room persisted, the situation got increasingly challenging for Tamim, who serves as the ODI captain.
The fact that the crew was responsible for catering to both of the generous personas brought out a level of strain in Tamim that he may not have felt previously. Tamim has recently struggled with a lack of runs and reoccurring physical concerns, and the very public knowledge of his troubled relationship with his friend has been an additional source of frustration for him.
As a result of the comments made by the board president, rumors began to circulate that the ODI captaincy would be changed, and there would be no transparency. Tamim was ultimately impacted by it, and in terms of the BCB’s methods of dealing with senior stars, it was yet another nasty stain on the country’s cricket.
In their capacity as administrators, they were tasked with resolving internal conflicts and marshaling both of their teams in preparation for the forthcoming World Cup in India. They did not perform very well in that aspect at all.