On Saturday, October 28, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Bangladesh lost their fifth consecutive match in the ODI World Cup 2023, adding to their problems with the campaign. In a low-scoring match at the legendary location, the Asian team was defeated by the Netherlands, captained by Scott Edwards, by 87 runs. Following the loss, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan acknowledged that the players’ morale may have suffered as a result of his verbal altercation with Tamim Iqbal before the big game. For those who don’t know, Tamim was left out of Bangladesh’s 15-man ODI World Cup squad due to fitness concerns.
The southpaw subsequently disclosed, nevertheless, that he had requested the selectors not to pick him because a member of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had requested that he give up his opening position and bat in the middle order. Tamim’s actions were publicly referred to by Shakib as immature.
It could have had an impact on the group. It’s not peculiar. After the Netherlands match, Shakib remarked, “I am not disputing the idea that (the dispute) might have affected us. You never know what’s going through someone’s head.
“You can say that,” says Shakib Al Hasan, who acknowledges that Bangladesh’s CWC 2023 campaign will be the weakest ever.
When asked if this is Bangladesh’s worst ODI World Cup 2023 campaign, the great all-rounder responded in the negative. Shakib Al Hasan consented to do so.