Bangladesh failed to succeed in the Asia Cup. Fans grew angry, and their frustration showed on social media. Most players then traveled to the UAE for the Afghanistan series. Bangladesh did well in the T20s. In the ODIs, Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s team struggled.
The players returned home yesterday (Wednesday). Fans expressed their anger directly. Some players faced verbal abuse. Others faced harassment in front of their families. Towhid Hridoy and Mohammad Naim Sheikh were targeted longer. Fans focused on their car. Naim felt hurt. He shared an emotional message on Facebook.
Naim wrote, “We do more than play on the field. We carry our country’s name with pride. The red and green flag is in our blood. Every ball, every run, every breath, we try to make the flag proud. Sometimes we win. Sometimes we lose. That is sports. We know our losses hurt you because you love this country like we do.”
He added, “The hatred today, attacking our car, really hurts. We make mistakes, but we never lack love or effort for our country. We work for the country, for the people, to bring smiles to your faces.”
Naim asked fans to criticize reasonably. “We want love, not hatred. Criticism should be fair, not angry. We all belong to the same flag. Win or lose, the red and green must stay our pride. We will fight and rise again, for the country, for you, for this flag.”
Bangladesh lost all three ODIs to Afghanistan. In the last two matches, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mohammad Naim Sheikh, and Towhid Hridoy were bowled out for 109 and 93 runs. They suffered heavy defeats. Fans remembered the Asia Cup, where Bangladesh had hopes against India and Pakistan but lost. Naim played only in the final ODI. He scored 7 runs off 24 balls.
