World Cup 2011

Bangladesh players asked not to write columns

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has asked the Bangladeshi players and those associated with the team to not write columns in newspapers during the World Cup. This directive comes after Shakib Al Hasan wrote a column expressing his displeasure at criticism from former players after his side was bowled out for 58 against West Indies. The Daily Starreported that all the team members have been sent a letter asking them to stop writing columns and also "observe protocol when speaking to the media". Coach Jamie Siddons, too, was pretty harsh in his assessment of former players' views when he spoke at a press conference two days ago.

However, the newspaper also reported that the national contracts do not have a clause that can bar them from writing in newspapers. The BCB chief Manzur Ahmed told the paper that the board will make sure the renewed contract has such a clause.

In his column Shakib had suggested the former players had faced much more humiliation than the current side has encountered. Siddons said that the said former players don't "have the balls" to say things to his face, calling them "not courageous". Khaled Mahmud and Aminul Islam, former captains, have been vocal in their criticism of the current team, in particular the lack of fight shown.