Simmons urges Bangladesh players to sideline social media

by Atif Azam • Last updated on

The ODI series kicks off on October 18. © BCB

Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons on Friday (October 17) urged his players to stay away from posting on their social media handles to respond to critics. The request came after the Bangladeshi cricketers received hostile reception at the airport following their return from the UAE where they were whitewashed by the Afghans in the three-match ODI series. That prompted Naim Sheikh, who was booed by the fans while getting into the car, to answer them in his official social media handle.

Simmons touched the topic ahead of the opening ODI against West Indies at home. "Okay. I'm glad you brought it up because, first of all, I don't agree with players having anything to do with social media," Simmons said.

"It is your right as a person to be on social media, to say what you want on social media. But as an international player, as a national player for Bangladesh, my players should not be on there," he said.

However, Simmons was critical of fans for racially abusing Jaker Ali as it has been the case in the recent past with the wicket-keeper batter. "I would say one thing, it is not nice to bring racial tones into anything to do with players. I don't care where you're from, the racial part of it against Jaker Ali I am disgusted with. That's not nice. But I don't want my players answering anything on social media," he said.

Simmons added that he feels it is too early to lose their patience with skipper Mehidy Hasan despite his poor form as a leader only managing one win out of 10 games. "You can't judge his captaincy on 200 runs at 198 and not chase him. Now, in the field you can judge his captaincy. And I think the captaincy in the field has been good," said Simmons. "But winning games depends on your batsmen too. And if your batsmen don't score the runs that is needed, then you're going to be in trouble. So if I judge him on the field I think he's been good."

I have never seen wicket like this- Sammy

Meanwhile, West Indian head coach Darren Sammy said on Friday that he has never seen a wicket like the ones prepared for the upcoming ODI series. "Well, the captain has not seen the wicket, but I have. I'm not sure if we could replicate - we've never seen anything like that before," said Sammy.

"But I think we all know the challenge that the sub-continent brings, especially to our batters. I think coming from India is something that is of advantage for the guys who have, you know, gotten used to such or the closest conditions you'll get. But at the end of the day, like the captain said, it's the experience, the knowledge, the application of oneself at the crease, and understanding what is required-assessing the conditions very quickly," he said.

"Some of the guys it's probably foreign to them, but the learning would have to be done whilst you play. So you assess the conditions and then you decide what is required in order for you to be successful. And like I said earlier, it's going to be a challenge here at home in Bangladesh from what I've seen, but one challenge that I think my team is much prepared for, because most of my batters are coming from India, traveling near to Bangladesh," he said.

Even though West Indies have been at the receiving end for a while now, he pointed out that every successful team goes through lull periods. "I think the idea of West Indies brings the most, probably in history, the most successful brand in cricket. That is what the idea of West Indies represents. I've said it before, when we dominated, everybody wanted West Indies to play. All teams go through their cycles. For us, we're going through it now, but the idea of West Indies will never be one that is of failure," he said.

"Because I understand the history we bring to this game. I understand what it takes to be a successful brand, and that is what this generation, I'm pretty sure Cricket West Indies, that is what they're trying to bring back. And yes, we have some challenges in doing that, whether it be financial, whether it be some of the things that we've spoken about, but the idea of West Indies is never one that's failing. It is one that brings great history and legacy. And I'm pretty sure West Indies has inspired so many people from Bangladesh, and, and, and want them to play the game. And we will continue to do that. But I'll never see the brand that West Indies is as one that's a failing one in my head. We don't do that," he added.

© Cricbuzz

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