Bangladesh coach Phil Simmons has urged cricketers to stay off social media and not post any incidents online. His remarks came after The Bangladeshi team was attacked and booed by fans at the Dhaka airport after returning home from the 3-0 ODI series against Afghanistan.
Separate footage showed pacer Taskin Ahmed and his family facing similar abuse from supporters. In response, batsman Mohammad Naim Sheikh, who was part of the series, shared an emotional message in which he emphasized that the players represent the national flag and not themselves, despite the criticism they face.
“I don’t agree with players having anything to do with social media. It’s your right to be on social media, say whatever you want on social media. But as an international player, as a Bangladesh national player, my players shouldn’t be there,” Simmons told reporters ahead of Bangladesh’s ODI series against West Indies.
“Disgusted by racial abuse at Jaker Ali”
Simmons also condemned the racial abuse directed at Jaker Ali Anik, who has been repeatedly targeted on social media for his poor form during the Asia Cup and his recent struggle with the bat. Jaker led the Tigers in the Asia Cup and the T20I series against the Afghans in the absence of Litton Das.
“I would say one thing, it’s not nice to bring racial undertones to anything involving players. I don’t care where you’re from, I’m disgusted by the racial part of it against Jaker Ali. It’s not nice. But I don’t want my players to respond to anything on social media,” Simmons added.
After the defeat to Afghanistan, the Tigers will look to bounce back in their upcoming series against the West Indies starting on Saturday, October 18 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. Mehidy Hasan Miraz has had a tough start to his tenure as Bangladesh’s ODI captain, losing nine of his first ten matches since taking over from Najmul Hossain Shant.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
October 17, 2025
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