'We cannot expect batting plans from Walsh' - BCB president

BCB president Nazmul Hassan has credited his advice to the players for turning Bangladesh's form around in the Nidahas Trophy. He has also said interim coach Courtney Walsh cannot be relied upon to come up with batting plans for the team, and that the senior players would have to do this themselves.

Unusually for a board president, Hassan has frequently involved himself in day-to-day matters of the team since 2015. His meetings with players have become commonplace, as have his interactions with the media to inform them about these meetings.

After a heavy defeat to India in their opening match, Bangladesh chased down 215 to beat Sri Lanka on Saturday.

"I sat with Mushfiqur [Rahim], Tamim [Iqbal] and [Mahmudullah] Riyad after the India game," Hassan said. "There was a lot of emotion in the meeting. Our batting against India was unacceptable. I told them that you didn't play cricketing shots; you only tried to swing at deliveries outside off-stump. The new boys may have done it but not Tamim, Mushfiq and Riyad. They gave away 57 (68) dot balls.

"Who will bring them out of this? I am a non-technical person. They have to do this job. They have Walsh who is the interim coach but we can't expect batting plans from him. We spoke a lot about this; there were a lot of emotions. I said there's no point being emotional. Let's stick to the basics. What happened to our body language? Winning and losing isn't a big deal but we have to show that we want to win in every delivery."

Walsh, who became Bangladesh's bowling coach in September 2016, recently took over as the team's interim coach. Bangladesh are yet to fill the head coach's role on a full-time basis following the exit of Chandika Hathurusingha in November 2017. Walsh played 132 Tests for West Indies, finishing as their leading wicket-taker with 519 scalps, but also earning a reputation for being one of cricket's most hapless No. 11s.

Hassan went as far as saying that he has told the senior players to threaten young players like Mehidy Hasan Miraz with the axe if he attempts to play out of character.

"After Friday's meeting, they understood what they have to do," Hassan said. "There are small issues like Miraz trying to hit a six against India. How can he hit a six in such a big ground? Did anyone scold him for it? Someone has to tell him that if he is playing this way, he will be dropped. A young player will become nervous if I try to tell him. So it is the senior players who have to tell them."