'Shakib in WC is top priority'

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan has been under fire recently because of the perception that it was the BCB boss who forced star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan to play in the Asia Cup. There has been doubt recently about Shakib's availability for the 2019 World Cup in England next summer, with Shakib saying that the infection in his finger has to subside and then it would require six further months to have a surgery. However, upon returning from having treatment in Melbourne, Shakib said that the pain was gone and that he would be able to start playing after a month. In an exclusive interview with The Daily Star's Bishwajit Roy and Sakeb Subhan yesterday, the BCB boss said that Shakib playing the World Cup in England next summer was the top priority and that all cricket leading up to that -- including the Indian Premier League, the Bangladesh Premier League and the New Zealand tour -- were unimportant in comparison. The following are excerpts from the interview at his Gulshan residence: 

The Daily Star (TDS): What did you want to say about your role in the Shakib fiasco?

Nazmul Hassan (NH): Shakib told me after getting hurt that he wanted to go to Bangkok for treatment, and he went to Bangkok. Before the Nidahas Trophy [in March] I asked him what the state of his hand was. He said that there was no pain, so I said then you should play. He said that he was afraid. I asked him to go to Bangkok and show a doctor, and he went, but after that there was no feedback. So I assumed that he was not going with the team, probably because the doctor said that he couldn't play. Then, during the Nidahas Trophy the Prime Minister [Sheikh Hasina] called me, asking where I was and asking to talk to the players. I wasn't in Sri Lanka. She told me to immediately get on a plane, and insisted upon it when I said that I had not planned to go. Once Apa tells you to do something you cannot say no. She also asked me to buy a ticket for Shakib. After we landed he told me that he wanted to go to Australia for more treatment, saying that he may be able to play. But then again there was no feedback. Then with two days to go till the match against Sri Lanka, I heard in the morning that he had submitted his passport in the Indian High Commission, for the IPL. I said to take the passport back, because as he was not playing the Nidahas Trophy, he couldn't play the IPL. Shakib called and said that he can play. I said that he should come to the Nidahas Trophy if the doctor has cleared him. He replied that he would come if we reach the final, to which I said that if we lose the next game then there won't be a final to play, so he doesn't need to come. He came the next day.

After that incident [his finger being infected during the Asia Cup and having to leave the tournament midway], I caught hold of them [BCB media team] and asked where talk of the operation had come from. [BCB chief physician] Debashish [Chowdhury] told me that he did not know. Because no doctor has said that, and rather said that there was no use doing surgery and that he would have to go on like this. His cricket would not be impacted. If nothing else worked, then he would have the operation as a last resort.

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan (R) talks with team physio Thihan Chandramohan about his injury at the players' dressing room of the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday. PHOTO: STAR

The World Cup is the most important tournament, and the next is Asia Cup. Bilateral series and other tournaments come after that. Then the franchisees like CPL, IPL and BPL. BPL is most important because it is our tournament. But compared to the World Cup, BPL and IPL are unimportant. Not even the New Zealand tour. My desire is that he becomes fully fit and then goes to play the World Cup and after he came back we will all sit to talk about it. After I said that, he said the very next day that he was okay, and that he would actually want to play against West Indies [at home]. Before that he said that there would not be a surgery for six months to one year. Six months means right before the World Cup -- there won't be a surgery right before the World Cup, that I can tell you. Now if he wants to play before that, I won't stop him if the doctors and physio agree. If the infection goes down and surgery is required, he can have surgery by January and start playing in the Ireland tri-series in April to prepare for the World Cup. I will react if he wants to have the surgery right before the World Cup.

He [Shakib] is still young. His decision-making wasn't... for example, he told me that he would talk to the doctor and decide about playing but then he took the physio's word and played. He told me he would go to America from Dubai, but then came back to Dhaka. But in my mind it is clear, we never forced him to play.

TDS: If it turns out that Shakib's infection had worsened under the physio's [Thihan Chandramohan's] care during the Asia Cup and it was due to his negligence, will action be taken?

NH: I have ask for all the doctors' report and I will get them tomorrow [Wednesday], and if I see in any of the reports from any doctor that there was mention of the operation, I will not let them [medical staff] go. I also asked the physio to submit his report immediately.

TDS: There is also a perception of you being too involved in every aspect of Bangladesh cricket. Does that mean the committees and sub-committees are not fully capable of doing their jobs?

NH: I don't know why they can't quite do it. But I cannot sit back and see the bad results. When I see day after day that the team are losing three early wickets; I cannot sit back. Mashrafe [Bin Mortaza] asked for Imrul [Kayes] midway through the Asia Cup, and I said okay, might as well bring in Soumya [Sarkar] too. I do not know what Mashrafe will say now, but all the decisions were taken after consulting him and according to his wishes.

I have to be involved. [Former coach Chandika] Hathurusingha was the only one I knew who planned the minutest details. He used to decide on what balls to use, what type of pitches. He did not trust anyone, not even the selectors. Even if the groundsman told him about a pitch he would not take his word until he actually inspected the pitch himself . We have not yet gotten someone who has such detailed plans. His biggest problem, however, was communicating with players.

Another example is when Mustafizur had surgery in London [in August 2016]. I called him the day before the surgery to ask if he was scared. He said 'no I am not, but Uncle, could you tell the doctors that I am very afraid of needles?' The very next day I flew to London to be by his side. The players want me to be involved. Mashrafe once asked the Prime Minister to tell me to go on tours.