On speculations as to why he did not feature in their T20 World Cup 2024 Super Eight match against India, the vice-captain of Bangladesh finally spoke out. Taskin revealed that he had missed the team bus that morning, but explained that that was not why he was omitted from the game.
"I was a little late, but I reached the ground before the toss," Taskin told Dhaka-based newspaper Ajker Patrika. "I arrived around 30-40 minutes before the toss. I missed the team bus. It left the hotel at 8:35 am. I left for the ground at 8:43 am. I almost reached the ground with the bus. It's not like didn't pick me up because I was late. Anyway, I wasn't going to play."
Bangladesh replaced Taskin with Jaker Ali and who opened the bowling with both Mahedi Hasan and Shakib Al Hasan. Taskin returned into the Bangladesh team for their following match against Afghanistan on 24 June.
Taskin uncovered that no disciplinary action was taken against him, and captain Shakib Al Hasan has confirmed that the matter had been buried after Taskin apologized.
"The bus leaves at a certain time. The team bus doesn't wait for anyone," Shakib told reporters. "If someone misses it, they can come in a manager's car or taxi. West Indies is tough for transport. Taskin arrived 5-10 minutes before the toss, making it hard for the management to select him. He apologized, and it was taken normally; an unintentional mistake that ended there."
The incident was revealed by BCB president Nazmul Hassan at the press conference following a board meeting on Tuesday.
"I saw Taskin wasn't there in the XI. I called up manager Rabeed. He said Taskin missed the bus but is on the field now; he has arrived late. I'll read the department's report."
Taskin's absence didn't affect any decisions since he played in the next match itself, so it was very short-term in effect.
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