Why Bangladesh Cricket Still Can’t Build a Culture of Honest Conversations

Picture this: you give everything to the game, you worked to get through the domestic leagues, you play every day, and then you find out you’re not in the national team through a viral Facebook post, because someone else exists. It sounds ridiculous, right? But that’s exactly what Mosaddek Hossain said he just experienced. In a recent interview, the 29-year-old all-rounder discussed not only the issue of missing selection, but opened up a Pandora’s box on an issue we do not discuss enough: there is no “culture” in Bangladesh cricket, where selectors talk to the player explaining their decisions. And it is beginning to show.

Ghosting Isn’t Just for Dating — It’s in Selection Too

It is what it is. Part of being a professional cricketer means being dropped or left out of a squad. But being left in the dark? That is a different story. It was brave of chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu to say, sounding so dismissive, that “as long as Miraz is playing, Mosaddek has no chance.” Ridiculous and unkind.

But more shocking? Mosaddek found out through social media, not from a phone call, a meeting, or even a text. And he’s not alone—this has become a recurring pattern in Bangladesh cricket. It’s as if players have to play detective to understand why they’re in or out.

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Silence Isn’t Strategy—It’s Just Poor Management

One of the biggest takeaways from Mosaddek’s interview is the complete lack of feedback. When players are dropped, they deserve to know why, so they can work on it. It’s how growth happens in any professional field. In cricket? It’s radio silence.

And here’s the irony: Mosaddek was the most prolific wicket-taker in the league, scored the winning runs in the final, and still didn’t get a call-up.

Even when asked about his absence from the 2023 World Cup squad, Mosaddek pointed out that Mahmudullah Riyad barely bowled (just four overs in eight matches), and certainly, there was no basic explanation as to why other off-spinning all-rounders were not selected.

Not only is selection absent transparency unfair, but beyond being unfair, it saps motivation, particularly in a team that has spoken regularly about having depth and building competition. How does one build anything when the logic and understanding are absent, and players are treated like pawns in a game they do not understand?

The Ripple Effect: Demotivation, Confusion & Missed Opportunities

This communication gap isn’t just a “hurt feelings” problem—it’s a performance issue. Mosaddek admitted his “body was there, but the mind wasn’t” during a crucial practice match. That’s what confusion and uncertainty do: they eat away at confidence.

Players like Mosaddek are left to question not just their form but their future. And when you’re unsure of your next opportunity, how do you stay mentally locked in? It leads to demotivation and, eventually, talent drain, with skilled players looking towards franchise leagues just to stay relevant.

To be fair, Mosaddek isn’t throwing in the towel. He’s off to the Sixty Strikes Tournament in the USA with Shakib Al Hasan to gain experience, to keep pushing and moving forward, but he shouldn’t have to go overseas to find some answers.

Mosaddek’s story is not just an example of one player disillusioned; it is a reflection of a system that needs to be fixed. Honest talk shouldn’t be an exception but should be the norm between selectors and players. If not, then Bangladesh cricket could be, and risk alienating its talent and losing on progression moments.

What would happen if selectors sat down with players to explain the “why” behind decisions? Maybe we’d see less frustration and more fire on the field.