Mahmud doesnt want to continue his job with national team
Sports Reporter
Bangladesh technical director Khaled Mahmud Sujon didnt hold the wicket and team selection as responsible for the failure in the tri-nation and Test series, rather he put the blame on the cricketers of not performing well when it mattered most.
The hosts had lost the Test series quite badly, when they lost the series deciding second Test by 215 runs. Before that the Chittagong Test though ended in draw, Bangladesh could have lost that. Bangladesh started off well with three straight victories in the tri-nation series before losing the way.
Following two straight failures in ODI and test format, question raised about the ability of the support staffs and team management as there was allegation on team selection and wicket issue.
Mahmud however defended, saying, Firstly, its not about coaching, its about mentality. Coaching became better from the previous time but coach wont play cricket for you at the ground. This bunch of the cricketers won us the game but this time they couldnt replicate that. Simply it was the fact. There was no issue in team selection and others, he said.
Australias fast bowling was better than Sri Lanka. They had also good spinners. Englands spinners were also good and that time we played in the spinning track. We got a dead wicket in Chittagong but how good we were? We could have lost that. We missed a bowler of Shakib stature.
According to him, Bangladesh couldnt hold on the chances at the ground which caused the damage.
We could have won against Sri Lanka even in the turning wicket in Mirpur and we created several opportunities. They were 110 for six in the first innings, that time we missed the catch of Dilruwan Perera. If we could hold on the chance, we could have bowled them out for 140. Then if Mominul wasnt run out, we could have scored 220 and took 80 runs lead which could have won us the game. But we couldnt do that.
Mahmud however made it clear that he was very upset the way the people criticized him and the team selection, wicket issues. According to him, the place now gets dirty which forced him of not getting interest to work with Bangladesh team further. He also criticised the role of the media.
As there is slim chance to get any coach before the tri-nation series in Sri Lanka, the current supporting staffs could have retained the place, according to BCB media and communication committee chairman Jalal Yunus.
But Mahmud was such upset that he showed his reluctance to continue with the work.
The board will decide who will be in the charge in the team management. Because it is the board which gave me the responsibility. I dont want to say I wont work. What I say is that the place gets dirty and it becomes hard for me to work here. The main problem is when any Bangladeshi gets the charge of the team, some people dont like it. Despite the teams defeat I am here, thats now big matter because I even heard that I will be beaten up if I go outside. Thats really harsh on me. When Chandika Hathurusingha came to Bangladesh first, our team lost the series against West Indies badly. Many big names came here but they didnt give the side immediate success. But everyone is harsh on me.
I can take the responsibility of the bad result. We can make mistake in planning but the way some people get harsh on me, it is really disappointing.
I have been in cricket when I was just 12/13. You people who are now here, even wasnt born that time. My love towards cricket is not lesser than anyone.
Some people said we didnt include Mosaddek Hossain Saikat in the team because Abahani needs him in domestic circuit. This is a dirty allegation. Only for Mosaddek and Abahani, Bangladesh team lost the game? Its very funny. Some people here try to establish something which is fishy. Everything needs to be investigated properly, he said.
He concluded with that: We have the desire to win the tri-nation trophy and Test series but we couldnt do. I am upset and it makes me emotional.
