‘Reports untrue’ about Saifuddin’s injury exaggeration

Bangladesh coach Steve Rhodes has spoken out in defence of pace-bowling all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin a day before their do-or-die World Cup match against Afghanistan at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.

22-year-old Saifuddin, Bangladesh’s highest wicket-taker in the ongoing edition of cricket’s quadrennial showpiece, has suddenly become the centre of attention for all the wrong reasons since missing the match against Australia on Thursday with some reports suggesting that he exaggerated the extent of a back injury to avoid playing a tough match.

After some equivocation from team officials, head coach Rhodes spoke out strongly in defence of the young player on Sunday, saying the reports were untrue.

“First of all, his physical state... he’s fine,” Rhodes said when asked about Saifuddin’s physical and mental state in wake of the reports. “He needed rest; his back was giving him problems, that was the reason why he missed that last game against Australia. It was a physical thing… he couldn’t bowl. You’re not going to pick a player who couldn’t bowl.

“His mental state, I actually think this is a really, really important issue. The reports that came out were untrue. There was something about a meeting that I had regarding a replacement with [captain] Mashrafe [Bin Mortaza] and the selector [Minhajul Abedin] Nannu. That didn’t take place.”

Saifuddin bowled yesterday in practice for the first time since the match against West Indies last Monday, and appeared to be unhindered by injury.

There had also been reports that, when Mashrafe was off the field during a practice game against India on May 28 and Shakib Al Hasan was leading the team, Saifuddin threw down the ball when asked to bowl. It was from that match that reports of a back injury, later alluded to by bowling coach Courtney Walsh ahead of the match against West Indies, started. There has as yet not been a report from the physio Thihan Chandramohan that has been made public.

“I would like you guys – and I appreciate, probably people not in the room here -- before questioning the integrity of the players make sure your information is one hundred per cent,” Rhodes continued. “Because most of the Bangladeshi reporters here, I am sure, as well as the staff… we’re desperate for us to do well. And anything, if it’s a lie and it puts the player in a difficult position, then that’s not good for that player and that’s not good for Bangladesh. And I’m desperate to win this World Cup, and that’s the challenge and that’s the mountain to climb, and if anything gets in the way, please be sure of what people are telling you before you write it.”