Team comes first for Shakib

Bangladesh ODI captain and ace all-rounder gave his opinion regarding Tamim Iqbal's exclusion during an exclusive interview with T Sports yesterday. In a roundabout way, he detailed that the decision to exclude Tamim was part of many processes and facts which he was not part of.

He used Mahmudullah Riyad as an example.

"Mahmudullah Riyad bhai wasn't there but suddenly he came to the World Cup team. He didn't contribute as much he could have and he had the opportunity and it was a perfect stage for him to do something big. I felt he couldn't do that but his dedication, his responsibility for the team and his urge to play for the team, those things were noticed by all. So there is a difference," Shakib said, indicating that there was a difference in attitude between Mahmudullah and Tamim.

"Also, it's not my responsibility to select the whole team. If that was the case, I would have been able to announce the team after being captain a day before the Asia Cup. You have to go through many processes, things and facts, not only performance. On and off the field, the dressing room, the team meetings and atmosphere, many things taken into account before making the team. Although I am not saying I am involved with everything because I feel I am not very involved in these things," he said during the explosive interview.

Tamim had said in a video message yesterday, posted after the Bangladesh team's departure, that a board high-up had approached him to skip the first World Cup game and also bat lower down the order.

Shakib denied involvement in such a request being put to Tamim. He however likened Tamim's behaviour to a child's antics at the playground.

"As I said, I have not discussed anything like that so I don't know where the question is coming from. If someone has said that, I am sure an authorised person has done it and he was informing early so that it's best for both parties. I don't see anything bad in this. I am sure someone would not say something like that to create harm.

"So if someone made that proposal, is there something wrong with it? Or is it like you can't make a proposal like that? Like you have to tell a particular person that 'you do whatever you want?' It's like a childish behaviour where someone is saying 'it's my bat, only I will play.'

"For the good of the team, anyone should be ready to play in any position. It's about team first," he added.

He also said why taking Tamim would have been a difficult proposition for him. "When I don't know whether someone is playing the third game or the seventh game and I will only know in the morning of the game, then it's difficult for me to select the team.

Shakib also informed that the Bangladesh dressing room were aware of Tamim's intention of leaving captaincy, saying in the end it resulted in having no real time to ready the squad for World Cup. He also informed that he do not want to captain even for a game after the World Cup.