'I am not on social media'
It is true that the Bangladesh-India match of late has now been blown out of proportion in the social media, especially after the World Cup quarterfinal at the MCG last year.
But both Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and a reborn Indian left-arm pace bowler Ashish Nehra have played down the hype when confronted with the question of whether that 'social media war' was affecting them.
“I don't think any player thinks of that. It's in the social media or in the news. I don't believe anyone thinks that way in our team and I'm sure the sentiment is the same in the Indian team,” said Shakib.
Nehra was more animated.
“You are asking this question to a wrong person because I'm somebody who is not on social media. I'm still using my old Nokia. So, I'm not on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. May be I'm from the old school. But Bangladesh is doing very well, especially in this format. You name it, like Tamim Iqbal, Mustafizur Rahman. So, there are so many good cricketers coming up and they are being part of the IPL [Indian Premier League], Big Bash [League] or the Caribbean Cricket League”, said Nehra to much laughter in the audience.
He also said that the way Bangladesh cricket is going is good for world cricket.
He admitted that Taskin Ahmed has been doing very well for Bangladesh, but said his absence would not greatly affect their bowling especially with the return of Mustafizur Rahman from injury.
“Taskin was a good bowler for Bangladesh. But Mustafizur is back after not playing the last few games due to injury. And with Al-Amin [Hossain] they have got the bowling depth, Shakib is a very good all-rounder,” Nehra added.
He was also very excited to have Mustafizur in his IPL team, Sunrisers Hyderabad.
“In this format he is very good. He has got a god-gifted slower ball with a very good action and he is a very good future prospect, especially in one-day [cricket], and the good thing is that in the IPL he is in my team. He is a great prospect,” said Nehra.
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