Bangalore: Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza could not hold back his tears while speaking to the media yesterday over the suspensions of bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Arafat Sunny.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) barred the two from bowling in international cricket on Saturday after finding their actions illegal following an assessment in Chennai during the ongoing World Twenty20. After the bowlers were reported for suspect action, the Bangladesh management and players were confident they would pass the ICC assessment. But the news of their suspension came as a huge blow to the team.
Bangaldesh are particularly bitter about Taskin’s suspension. On Saturday evening, the team held a four-hour meeting about what steps they could take against the verdict. But as per the team management’s suggestion, they decided to go along with the ICC process. The players now look to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to lodge a formal protest.
“There is a process and we will follow that. Whatever we want to say, we will say it to the BCB. The board will decide what to do, and talk to the ICC or whoever (else),” Mashrafe said yesterday. “But we still believe that Taskin - at least - is all right, and that Taskin can bowl. Now we will go through the processes and the systems that we have.”
Mashrafe said none of Taskin’s deliveries had been proven illegal in the game against the Netherlands, where his action was questioned. Taskin did not bowl a single bouncer in that match. But he was asked to bowl nine bouncers in three minutes in the test where three of his balls exceeded the 15-degree limit.
Mashrafe, who is usually lively, made no attempt to hide his feelings. His voice trembled with almost every word that he spoke yesterday. When Mashrafe was overlooked for the 2011 World Cup, he had broken down at the BCB Academy ground. It was the last time anyone would remember him crying.
Although he did not shed tears during the conference, he started wiping his tears on his way out of the briefing room. Being the captain this time around, Mashrafe feels for the young talent that Taskin is. “I don’t think about my career. But what kind of captain would I be if I can’t stand beside the boy who will serve my country for the next 10-15 years. I can’t accept this injustice,” Mashrafe said.
Bangladesh will take on Australia at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore today in their second Super 10 match. They did practice yesterday but their preparations have been overshadowed by the ban.
Taskin was reduced to tears once he heard the news of his suspension. Mashrafe tried to calm the 20-year-old down but was lost for words. Sunny was in no better condition either. Mashrafe said the team was having a very tough time trying to keep the two boys calm.