Rafique blows hot and cold

[reverse_swing]

Mohammad Rafique barely escaped disciplinary ction ten months after he was forced to fly back home from Harare following a heated exchange with his captain Habibul Bashar.

The experienced left-arm spinner, who missed the first three one-day games because of a strained hamstring, lost his composure for the second time while going through a fitness test at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

This time the leading wicket-taker of the country engaged in a verbal war with team physio Robbie Hunt at the latter stage of a gruelling one-hour fitness test.

A visibly excited Rafique, who was at that time practising running between the wickets, furiously raised his bat at Hunt before fitness trainer Stuart Karpinnen intervened.

The unsavory incident stunned members of both the Bangladesh and Zimbabwe teams, who were also training at the time.

Rafique then walked off the ground with his head hanging over his shoulder and stayed inside the dressing room for the reminder of the training.

A visibly disturbed Hunt, on the other hand, kept quiet for the rest of the session and refused to talk to reporters while rushing back to the dressing room.

Although both Rafique and Hunt did not speak, it was assumed that the trouble started after the Australian physio said something that apparently offended Rafique.

Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore and Habibul Bashar tried to play down the incident in an attempt to uphold the spirit of the team ahead of the crucial fourth one-day match on January 29.

But Zimbabwe captain Tatenda Taibu, who was batting in the nets when the incident took place, certainly enjoyed the episode.

Taibu, who is leading the five-match series 2-1, refused to make any comment but with a broad smile on his face said: "I have curiously looked at what happened in the middle."

However, in the end the Bangla-desh team management after a series of discussions brokered a truce with chief selector Faruque Ahmed playing the role of peacemaker.

"Here is an announcement for you that Rafique has passed the fitness test and he has been included in the 14-member squad for the last two games replacing left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak," he said while confirming that Rafique and Hunt had put the incident behind them.

"I have talked to both Rafique and Hunt and all they wanted to say was they were friends again. Whatever happened today can happen to any team. But I can tell you that they shook hands and wanted to get on with the business of cricket," the chief selector told reporters.

But the uncalled for incident had a bearing on training as the cricketers, who flew into Dhaka from Chittagong in the morning, nonchalantly played a game of football before engaging in a monotonous drill.

A witty Whatmore however said that the training was a spirited one.

Bashar, on the other hand, was totally focused on tomorrow's day-night clash at the premier venue of the country.

"We have won the last game comfortably in Chittagong but still there are areas we need to improve on," said the 32-year-old adding that it was not only the middle-order that was not getting the runs but also the bowling at times was giving away too many runs.

Asked what was going wrong with Mohammad Ashraful, who has been a flop in the series so far, Bashar blamed the nature of the wicket.

"Ashraful is a stroke-maker who loves to play his shots. But the wickets we have played on in Chittagong and Dhaka were not ideal for stroke play," said Bashar.

The Bangladesh captain admitted that the toss was vital on this kind of slow surface but expressed his desire to complete a successful run chase after two futile attempts.

"We want to successfully chase in at least one game just to prove that we are a better side than Zimbabwe."

But when asked whether he would field first if he won the toss tomorrow, Bashar replied in the negative.

The dashing right-hander however admitted that he would have dearly loved an off-spinner in the side but he was ready to play with the available resources.

SQUAD: Habibul Bashar (captain), Nafees Iqbal, Rajin Saleh, Aftab Ahmed, Mohammad Ashraful, Manzarul Islam, Khaled Mashud (wicketkeeper), Khaled Mahmud, Alok Kapali, Mohammad Rafique, Mashrafee-Bin-Mortuza, Tapash Baisya, Nazmul Hossain and Enamul Haque.
Picture
The Bangladesh players stretch during a light training session at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. The Tigers, who trail the five-match one-day international series against Zimbabwe 1-2, play the fourth game tomorrow.

-Dailystar

[Beamer]

I read about the incident in BDkhela and they wrote something of that nature as well. They wrote that Rafiq raised his bat while screaming, "shut up, shut up "!! to Hunt and charged him. This type of things keep happening to him. He must be a professional. Hunt has a job to do. So does Rafiq. Hunt's job is to asses whether a player with physical question mark is fit enough to play or not. He is paid to do that. In any case, its totally unacceptable to even threaten anyone with physical attacks, regardless of what is going on in one's personal life. Heck, you don't attack your colleague at work since things are not well at home. You have to be a professional about it. He has develpoed a pattern of bahaviour which is troublesome in the context of a team sport. It will surely effect the younger players and not to mention the opposition who must have enjoyed it. And some people want him to be the captain!! Geat cricketer no doubt.

[Fazal]

I see a pattern here based on other small incidents in the past.

Rafique needs professional help to cope with his emotions. The sooner Rafique, BCB and his fans realize that, the better for every one.

p.s. now don't start bashing me a as rafique-hater for saying that.

Edited on, January 27, 2005, 6:24 PM GMT, by Fazal.

[Blah]

This is extremely unfortunate. Regardless of his performance, he should be severely punished for this. Threatening someone physically, especially if that person is one of the team, is absolutely unacceptable. And this is not the first time he has done it.

Blah

[AsifTheManRahman]

and i, with a broad smile on my face, recall the bashing i got a few days ago for suggesting that it is not unnatural for this, or any other team for that matter, to have internal problems.

rafique has it in his blood to get outrageous at times.

this kind of stuff always happens when we are about to win a series against zimbabwe. very sad.

hope this doesn't affect the team performance on the field. most probably it won't, since the coach and captain have taken the correct move.

Edited on, January 27, 2005, 6:25 PM GMT, by AsifTheManRahman.

[AsifTheManRahman]

Originally posted by Blah
This is extremely unfortunate. Regardless of his performance, he should be severely punished for this. Threatening someone physically, especially if that person is one of the team, is absolutely unacceptable. And this is not the first time he has done it.

Blah

maybe after the series, for the sake of the team.

[AsifTheManRahman]

Originally posted by Beamer
I read about the incident in BDkhela and they wrote something of that nature as well. They wrote that Rafiq raised his bat while screaming, "shut up, shut up "!! to Hunt and charged him. This type of things keep happening to him. He must be a professional. Hunt has a job to do. So does Rafiq. Hunt's job is to asses whether a player with physical question mark is fit enough to play or not. He is paid to do that. In any case, its totally unacceptable to even threaten anyone with physical attacks, regardless of what is going on in one's personal life. Heck, you don't attack your colleague at work since things are not well at home. You have to be a professional about it. He has develpoed a pattern of bahaviour which is troublesome in the context of a team sport. It will surely effect the younger players and not to mention the opposition who must have enjoyed it. And some people want him to be the captain!! Geat cricketer no doubt.

we don't know what Hunt said, mind you. therefore we cannot imply that rafique's actions were an aftermath of what happened to his stores a couple of days ago.

nevertheless, he should be punished. the management has made the correct decision for the time being - the whole team shouldn't suffer for one person. however, the matter should be looked at right after the series.

[mahbubH]

"Rafique for Captain" threads may not pop up that often after this! Good for BC.

[Bangla Mostan]

Rafique needs to calm down, bangladesh need to play better simple as that...the situation they are in is ludicrous....Zimbabwe are clearly a much better and improved side then Desh.....

I fear when Bangladesh come to England....how long will they last and would they be able to put up a fight?

[paco]

Rafique seems to be going thru some bad times - with his market being destroyed and all - but he does seem to be a little too hot headed for his own good

[pagol-chagol]

you guys are making a big deal out of a small incident. This won't change anything.

Passionate & aggressive people are needed for some functions in sports as well as life. These traits help them become successful at what they do where there talents may not have been enough. The sportrs industry is flooded with superstars who have tamper problems.

You want a dragon, it'll blow fire.

[Blah]

Yeah we need someone to break dev's head next time to show his passion towards cricket.

point being: ludicrous.

Blah

[akabir77]

Why this happen to us over and over again just when he have a chance to come back... Like last time when it happen we were 1-1 with this zim and then we lost the game and series now it happen again??? is there anything going with rawfiq and zim team or what??????

On a lighter note the physico needs to hire Lathiwalla (BC member) fathers bodyguard.....

[CTazim]

He should be asked to take anger management task. I think he is under tremendous stress especially with his market demolished a few days ago; but nevertheless he should not have outburst like this.

[pagol-chagol]

Originally posted by akabir77
Why this happen to us over and over again just when he have a chance to come back... Like last time when it happen we were 1-1 with this zim and then we lost the game and series now it happen again??? is there anything going with rawfiq and zim team or what??????

On a lighter note the physico needs to hire Lathiwalla (BC member) fathers bodyguard.....

Yep. It happened in the Zimbabwe tour.

Taibu is performing some African Magic (Jhar-fuk) on Rafik again.

[cisco-guy]

Rafiq - the angry cricketer. Let him beat the Crap out of Zimbabwe bowlers !!!

Frankly speaking, we don't know the conversation between Rafiq and the Physiotherapist to judge him for the rude conduct.

[aftitabi]

Originally posted by pagol-chagol

Passionate & aggressive people are needed for some functions in sports as well as life. These traits help them become successful at what they do where there talents may not have been enough. The sportrs industry is flooded with superstars who have tamper problems.

You want a dragon, it'll blow fire.

You're really talking like pagol-chagol. Rafiq had a quarrel with bashar during the last zim tour cause he didn't think Rafiq was better than Ray Price and BD lost the next match to loose the series. Now that is quit a positive effect of aggressive nature.

Edited on, January 27, 2005, 8:16 PM GMT, by aftitabi.

[AsifTheManRahman]

Originally posted by pagol-chagol

Yep. It happened in the Zimbabwe tour.

Taibu is performing some African Magic (Jhar-fuk) on Rafik again.

yeah...we should get Peer Babar Fu ASAP to counter his black (no pun intended) magic

[pagol-chagol]

Originally posted by aftitabi

You're really talking like pagol-chagol. Rafiq had a quarrel with bashar during the last zim tour cause he didn't think Rafiq was better than Ray Price and BD lost the next match to loose the series. Now that is quit a positive effect of aggressive nature.

Edited on, January 27, 2005, 8:16 PM GMT, by aftitabi.

I am talking about the larger context and you are talking about a specific issue. I am sure he was wrong about that just like many other times. And he will be wrong many more times. Remember, Michael Jordan, the thrill seaker went to gamble all night long and was blamed for his team's loss the next day. He was wrong and he made a lot of other bad decisions. But, he and his extreme traits make you win. I hope you know what I am getting to.

[Bat-PadTogether]

The most senior Player of our team has such temparment?Just unbelieveable?We really dont know what is true?Rafique has done it in the past but he must be careful!Lets hope and pray Rafique shows tomorrow that he is a part of our team and shows his ability with both bat and ball.

[al]

he needs a crash course and needs to calm down

[pagol-chagol]

oh how fast the fans will ditch him when Rafiq's talents will fade and/or Enamul catches up with him!

Rafiq is destined to die as a sad lonely man.

All this glitter and accolades in vein.

Curse of a sports superstar.

[BD Tigers]

pagol-chagol ki bolen..shamanno ghotona niye bolen je rafique will die sad, alone....I just hope u really didnt mean that. if you did..then thak ar bollam na..u really need to check yr head to a doctor.

what Rafique did is punishable and that shud be done after the series and same goes for Hunt. But Rafique do need a course on anger management.

[BangladeshFan]

we need rafiq more than hunt.........what is the job of the physio? why do we need him by paying so much money.

Sl won the world cup with a vuriwala(but efficient ) ranatunga , didnt they? just eating "shak" and "dal" will keep us fit, best source for protein and vitamin

[Fazal]

Rafique misses John Gloster. That's the problem. Bring John Gloster back with double salary.