'It is totally childish' - Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan launches scathing attack on Tamim Iqbal amid 2023 World Cup snub controversy

Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan launched a scathing attack on senior batter Tamim Iqbal amid the 2023 World Cup squad selection controversy. Iqbal, who has been struggling with a persistent back injury, recently made a comeback to international cricket. However, he was not included in Bangladesh's 15-man World Cup squad.

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It is understood that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) decided to drop him considering his fitness concerns and availability. But the veteran opener rubbished all such claims on his social media handle. Iqbal alleged that he was fit to play in the World Cup but decided to back out after a senior board member asked him to bat down the order.

Skipper Shakib was not impressed with Iqbal's allegations and called the behaviour of one of Bangladesh's finest cricketers "childish". He also pointed out that Iqbal is obsessed with personal achievements rather than giving priority to the team.

"Someone like Rohit Sharma built his career from No. 7 to opener, scored 10,000-plus runs. If he sometimes bats at No. 3 or 4, would it be a big problem? It is totally childish. It is my bat, I will play. No one else can play. A player should bat at any position for the team. Team first. It doesn't make any difference if you have made 100 or 200, and the team loses. What can you do with personal achievement? You want to make a name for yourself?," Shakib was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo

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"You are not thinking about the team at all. People don't understand these things. Why was the proposal given to him? It was for the team. What is wrong in that? You are a team man when you agree to such a proposal. Unless you are thinking along those lines, you are not a team man. You are playing for individual records, success, fame, and name. Not for the team," he continued.

I don't think we need such a player: Shakib 

Before the squad announcement, there were reports that Iqbal had told the BCB that he would not be available for all the matches in the tournament. Shakib said the uncertainty over his availability would make picking a team difficult for him.

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"If I know that there's uncertainty about him playing the seventh or the third or the first game, or that I will only know in the morning of the game, it will be difficult for me to select the team. I don't think we need such a player," Shakib added.