'We are acting' - Najmul opens up on toll of World Cup controversy

Bangladesh Test skipper Najmul Hossain hinted on Friday that players are wearing the mask of 'everything is ok' as they are mentally quite drained over the ongoing controversy surrounding the ICC T20 World Cup.

Bangladeshi cricketers are spending sleepless nights as their participation in the ICC T20 World Cup remains uncertain after the BCB threatened not to take part in the forthcoming global tournament if their matches are not moved out of India.

"First of all, if you look at our World Cup results, we've never really played consistently good cricket. Last year, we did play well, but there were even better opportunities, and we couldn't capitalise on them. But you'll see that something always happens before every World Cup. I can say this from my experience of three World Cups - it does have an effect," Najmul told reporters bluntly on Friday.

"Now, we act as if nothing affects us, that we are fully professional cricketers. You guys also understand that we are acting - it's not easy," he said

"I feel that players still try to keep those distractions aside and perform for the team. Of course, it would be better if these things didn't happen, but this is partly beyond our control," he said.

"I don't know the details of how it happened, or how it could have been controlled. Still, I'd say that even acting in such circumstances (is difficult)," he said.

"With the right mindset if we go to the World Cup and play anywhere, we should focus on how to do our best for the team," he said.

Najmul added that he is quite hurt by the social media comment made by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director M Najmul Islam about former captain Tamim Iqbal, calling it disrespectful, unacceptable and damaging to the game.

BCB director came under fire from different corners and Najmul insisted that he was deeply hurt by the remark which described Tamim as an "Indian agent" after Tamim urged the BCB to prioritise cricket when deciding on T20 World Cup participation.

"Very sad, very sad because such comments were made about a cricketer - a former captain, and in my opinion one of Bangladesh's most successful cricketers whom we grew up watching," said the Test captain.

"As players, we expect respect - whether someone is a former captain, a regular player, successful or not. At the end of the day, a cricketer hopes for respect," he said.

"What hurts most is that the cricket board is supposed to be our guardian. We expect them to protect us. As a player, I cannot accept such a comment," he said.

"Parents should correct you at home, not in front of everyone. So such a comment from someone who is supposed to be our guardian is very difficult to accept. I completely reject it as a player," he concluded.