Bangladesh senior assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin has revealed the mental toll on players after the team withdrew from the T20 World Cup in India due to security concerns. Several cricketers, he said, were deeply affected by missing what could have been a career-defining tournament.
“Some players’ dreams were shattered. I know two of my players went into a kind of mental coma for four to five days,” Salahuddin told reporters. “Bringing them back onto the field during the high-intensity T20 tournament was one of the biggest challenges of my coaching career. Ensuring they could perform again on that stage was, in my opinion, the greatest success I have had as a coach.”
Following this, Bangladesh batter Saif Hassan took to Facebook to share his own experience. He described the heartbreak of missing his first-ever World Cup despite years of dedication, sacrifice, and preparation.
Saif wrote, “All praise be to Allah. Allah meherban 🤲. Alhamdulillah. Coming back from the heartbreak of not playing my first World Cup was not easy. It was a dream of a lifetime, built with a lot of hard work and sacrifices.”
He added that faith helped him cope with the disappointment. “I am sure Allah has planned something even better for all, as He is the greatest. Moving on from that moment was not easy, but thanks to everyone who supported me mentally during that tough period,” Saif said.
Salahuddin emphasised that beyond politics and administration, the decision had a deeply personal impact on players. “Money is secondary. What matters is the dreams of players who dedicate their lives to this sport. Destroying that dream in one instant is devastating,” he said.
