Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
“I don’t think there will be any more problems like this”
Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim was made to attend a hearing with some of the top Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials following his comments against chief selector Faruque Ahmed.
Rahim recently stated that he was shocked and appalled that Ahmed had failed to consult him when selecting the squad that would represent Bangladesh in the Asia Cup.
“We held a type of a hearing with Mushfiqur,” BCB director Akram Khan said. “We sat with him first. We discussed the code of conduct, his communication gap with Faruque bhai. We talked to both about these issues. I don’t think there will be any more problems like this.
“During my time as a chief selector, there was no provision for the selectors to select the team along with the captain. Similarly, the captain doesn’t have to take the selectors’ suggestion when he picks up the playing XI. It is a matter of understanding, that the selectors and captain take each others’ opinion when picking a squad and a playing XI.”
Ahmed revealed that head coach Shane Jurgensen had been present during one of the meetings where the selectors were discussing the squad for the Asia Cup.
Ahmed added that he was under the impression that Jurgensen was representing Rahim.
“When we made this team, we had a long discussion with the coach,” Ahmed said. “We understood that since the coach attended, he was representing the captain too. When we do discussion on playing XI, it is not necessary that all three selectors attend the meetings. If I attend, then I am representing the selection committee. I think it is good that such a thing has come up, so that now the BCB can make discussion mandatory. This will be my strong recommendation.
“It is not clearly mentioned in our job description that we are bound to consult someone while making a 15-man squad. It is the same with the captain when he is making a playing XI. He can talk to us about a specific issue but they are not bound to do so.”
Ahmed also noted that he understood Rahim’s frustrations and even went on to call his comments a “misunderstanding”.
“I have captained Bangladesh and at the club-level for almost 17 years, so I am well placed to understand how important the captain has to take all the pressure,” he said. “I think what has happened has been a misunderstanding.
“I think the BCB president explained it very well yesterday: we make the 15, captain makes the eleven. That is how we made the team. We understood that the coach knew some of the captain’s opinions.”