If I knew this would happen, I would not have come to the World Cup: Sujan

Bangladesh went to play the World Cup with the balloon of hope called semi-final inflated. In a short span of time, their hopes turned into disappointment. The Tigers have won only one of the 7 matches played so far in the tournament. Shakib Al Hasan will fly to the country after playing the remaining two matches in the World Cup. They are currently in Delhi for the upcoming match against Sri Lanka. Team Director Khaled Mahmud Sujan met the media there today (Friday).

Bangladesh will face Sri Lanka next Monday (November 6). Before that, Sujan talked about Bangladesh’s performance in the World Cup, his role in the team and the overall situation. This year, he went as the team director of Bangladesh, but his role has been limited. He said that he would not have gone to the World Cup with the team if he had known earlier.

Sujan said, ‘I am trying to do the role given to me by BCB. Every tour had an added responsibility that I was part of the team selection, which I don’t have this time. I don’t have the power to decide here. I’m told how much I can do, how much I can’t. I don’t have cricketing rules here.’

Although Sujan had made a decision earlier, Sujan cannot accept the fact that it is not the same now, ‘I’m not happy…I don’t want to be like this. As cricket is in my blood. Coaching is my profession. The role played in the previous tours as a technical man. I am far from these. Am I enjoying it? No, of course not. On a tour I will be there as a guardian, looking after rules and regulations or something. That’s not my job. I used to watch that too, but I mainly watched cricket. What has happened, there is no point in thinking about it now. We have to look at the next two matches.’

The former cricketer said that he would not have gone to the World Cup if he had known that he would not have any role in making the decision. I said before coming to the World Cup, I will play the semi-finals. Now it seems no thought that I said!’

Sujan said about the lack of rhythm of the Tiger cricketers, ‘I think the failure belongs to all of us. As the players play on the field their failures are the first. But why the implementation (planning) was not done is also a matter. Especially going off form all together….’

SH/AHS