[Nadim]

So...

The absence of Elias Sunny was the talking point during the first day of the second and final Test between Bangladesh and West Indies at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.

Everybody was surprised by the announcement on Saturday morning that the hero of the Chittagong Test was not playing the second match. Officially it was told that the left-arm spinner missed out due to an upset stomach. But the confusion with the cause behind his absence escalated as the day progressed with the sources within the Bangladesh Cricket Board claiming that he pulled himself out as he was upset more with a family feud than his sudden illness.

A reporter from The Daily Star visited his house near Hajaribagh Park yesterday and found out from the neighbours that there has been a dispute between Sunny's father and his uncles who live in a same four-storey building. Residents of the locality also confirmed that the local MP Fazle Noor Taposh even visited the house apparently to settle the matter on Thursday evening in presence of Sunny.

According to the BCB sources, Sunny went to his house without any permission from the team management. Another has informed that the player was reluctant to play the match because he was very upset with his domestic situation.

“We tried to convince him to play the match but he said that he was not ready to play the match. He looked down but otherwise he looked fit to play the match and there have been a lot of instances that the player appeared in the match despite such stomach problems. So it's really mysterious the reason behind his absence,” said an official on condition of anonymity.

But BCB media committee chairman Jalal Yunus said that Sunny has been suffering from dehydration following an upset stomach and that's why he was unable to play the match though Sunny came to the ground in the morning with his teammates.

“The coach [Stuart Law] was really upset by the incident. It's unfortunate as the player took food from outside. We are going to prepare strong team rules regarding the players' foods because they are getting allowance for it,” said Yunus.

Source: Thedailystar