BSS, Dhaka :
Prime Bank Cricket Club coach Mohammad Salahuddin, who is well known for mentoring top cricketers like Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim on Sunday questioned players commitment, particularly due to their poor fitness.
He said from what he has seen in the ongoing Dhaka Premier League (DPL) that most of the players lacked fitness to play smoothly for the full season.
“Sometimes it seems like are we paying the player more than what he deserves? Is there any rational behind that? Most of the players in my team are unfit,” Salahuddin said on Sunday.
“Their fitness level is to play for just three or four matches, not for whole season. We were the worst fielding side in the whole tournament,” he added.
Salahuddin’s Prime Bank, however, moved to the Super League but they are in fourth place with 12 points, six points behind the table topper Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club. It means hardly they have the chance to clinch the championship title unless Jamal and the second placed Abahani Limited loss most of their Super League matches.
So, before entering the Super League, Salauddin warned his players, “I have given the message to my team. If you want to play next year, you have to maintain a good fitness. Otherwise, there is no chance to play. Players need to work on their fitness before the start of the season. It’s hard to work
out fitness after the start of the season. Hopefully they will get the fitness right before next season. Then it will be good for themselves and it will be good for the team.”
He also emphasized on to be dedicated wholeheartedly for the team for a collective result.
“I think it’s important to have dedication to the team,” he said. “No matter how good a team is! It is difficult to get good results if team spirit does not come from within the players. You have to have empathy for the team. At least if you play with compassion… if the team loses then you will have emotional relief. I did not get that relief this time.”
