Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed recently addressed the incident where he missed the team bus for the Super 8 match against India in the T20 World Cup 2024. Taskin, who arrived at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua just minutes before the toss, clarified that he was not going to be part of the playing XI regardless of his late arrival.
Taskin explained that he missed the bus by a few minutes, leaving for the ground shortly after the team had departed. He stated, “I was a little late, but I reached the ground before the toss. I arrived at the ground around 30-40 minutes before the toss. It is not as if they didn’t pick me because I arrived late. I wasn’t going to play anyway.”
Jaker Ali replaced Taskin in the lineup, with Bangladesh opting to field two pacers, Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Mustafizur Rahman. Despite Taskin’s absence, Bangladesh’s bowlers struggled, allowing India to post a formidable total of 196/5. Bangladesh eventually lost the match by 50 runs.
Shakib Al Hasan, the team’s left-arm spinner, opened the bowling in Taskin’s absence. Shakib explained the situation, noting that it is standard procedure for the team bus not to wait for anyone and that Taskin had to arrive separately. “The bus usually leaves at a certain time. It is the rule that the team bus doesn’t wait for anyone. If by chance someone misses the bus, they can arrive in the manager’s car or a taxi,” Shakib said. He emphasized that Taskin’s late arrival was an unintentional mistake and that the team accepted his apology.
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