Dhaka. The Indian cricket team won the ICC T20 World Cup title by defeating South Africa in the final. In the Super 8, India faced Afghanistan, Australia and Bangladesh. Team India won all three matches. Bangladesh’s vice-captain Taskin Ahmed was not a part of the playing eleven in the Super 8. He was reportedly dropped from the crucial match against India because he slept for a long time and did not turn up to board the team bus.
However, the fast bowler denied this claim and said that he was out due to team combination. Bangladesh had to face defeat by 50 runs in the match held in North Sound, Antigua on 22 June. The team made one change in this match and played Zakir Ali in place of Taskin. ‘ESPNcricinfo’ quoted Taskin as saying to Dhaka-based newspaper Azker Patrika, “I reached a little late but I reached the ground before the toss.”
Taskin said, “I reached the ground about 30 to 40 minutes before the toss. I could not reach the team bus to board it. The bus left the hotel at 8:35 in the morning. I left for the ground at 8:43. I reached the ground almost with the bus. It is not that they did not select me because I reached late. I was not going to play anyway.”
Taskin returned to the playing XI for Bangladesh’s next match against Afghanistan on 24 June. Taskin apologised for the incident but veteran all-rounder and former captain Shakib Al Hasan said the pacer’s late arrival made his selection “difficult”.
FIRST PUBLISHED : July 3, 2024, 12:37 IST