Bangladesh coach Mohammad Salahuddin launched a violent attack on the former sports advisor over his handling of Bangladesh’s position on the 2026 T20 World Cup, accusing him of contradicting himself publicly and manipulating players’ votes in private. The anger comes amid wider implications about decision-making at the top – and the human cost of surprise calls to a dressing room already living on thin emotional margins.
At the heart of Saladin’s wrath is not just the decision itself, but also the process: he suggests that the narrative has changed publicly, while in the room, the players are left feeling unheard, exposed, and forced to suffer the consequences.
“He told such blatant lies,” Cricbuzz quoted Salahuddin as saying. “I’m a teacher, and teachers generally lie a little less. As for him telling such lies openly – I honestly can’t even imagine it. How will I show my face in front of the boys? He backed down.”
The coach’s choice of words is striking because he portrays the controversy as an issue of integrity and accountability, not just administrative confusion. By repeatedly emphasizing the former chancellor’s identity as an academic, Saladin effectively argues that a public figure associated with a leading institution must have a higher level of honesty – especially when national representation and the careers of players hang in the balance.
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“He is a teacher and teacher at Dhaka University. Someone from the highest educational institution of my country is telling such lies – we cannot accept that. How can we accept that? He had said one thing earlier and then backed down,” he added.
Salahuddin also claimed that the emotional impact within the team was intense, describing the group as feeling devastated – not just by the result, but by how quickly and decisively it was imposed. In his telling, a meeting that was supposed to be advisory became a one-way steer, leaving the players to deal with a life-defining blow without even the dignity of a proper explanation.
“Look, when a boy goes to play in the World Cup, he takes with him his dream – his 27-year-old dream. You destroy that dream in one second,” Salahuddin said. Mohamed Salah El-Din added: “Well, if it was a state’s decision for national reasons, they would sacrifice for the country. But if I talk about the loss, I will only talk about the personal loss. Personally, I completely ended a boy’s dream. I know that two of my team’s players were numb for several days, completely lost.”
The coach’s argument revolves around one point: he acknowledges that players will accept sacrifice when it is a clear patriotic call. What he seems unwilling to accept is the confusion, shifting interpretations, and lack of basic communication that make athletes feel disposable.
“For the sake of the country, I am also ready to sacrifice many things, and the boys are ready too. But did I put my hand on a boy’s head and say to him: ‘Son, you couldn’t play because of this?’” He added: “If things had been communicated correctly, I think many things could have been accepted.”
