They are five. They were fondly called as 'Panchpandava'. All five are experienced match winner. They had a great friendship.
-Was it?
Yes, the term good relationship is now past. Shakib Al Hasan was the first to kill the sharp axe of entanglement in this friendship. And so the graph of his relationship with one or two of the rest of the Pandavas is most downward. Shakib does not talk to Tamim. Friendship is far away. The way Shakib openly criticized Tamim in an interview before going to the World Cup, the dirtiness of their relationship has become unhealthier than the polluted air of Dhaka! Just before the World Cup, the whole cricket world saw the 'ugly match' of Tamim-Shakib conflict, controversy, dispute, insulting and insulting each other.
Shakib Al Hasan has given his own solution of who is the first and who is the second among these five Pandavas. Shakib's demand in the form of full declaration, first I then other Pandava! That is, Shakib has put his name first in this list than Mashrafe, Mahmudullah, Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiq. Shakib's claim is not unreasonable if we compare the performance in international cricket. But the mindset that there is no dignity if you don't sit in the front seat at all events does not indicate superiority; Rather, it is a manifestation of inferiority complex or inferiority!
Mashrafe is no longer in the national team. So Panchapandava is far away from this fighting ring. At times, in the manner of conscience or judge, he speaks comfortingly on Facebook to keep all parties on the same page. If the danger is big, the BCB also calls him for a meeting. Mashrafe came to the arbitration meeting and tried to reconcile. For the time being, the former captain's scope of work to meet the cricket complexities outside the field is that much. It is clear that Mashrafe is no longer wearing the national team jersey. However, since he has not yet officially announced his retirement from international cricket, there is no way to officially put 'former cricketer' before his name. But it is certain that Mashrafe is no longer in the national team's plans at any level. Mashrafe played his last match for the national team in March 2020.
BCB thanked him at that time.
As Mushfiq and Mahmudullah are close relatives, they still accept invitations to each other's homes. There is no complication between the two. There is good relationship between these two Pandavas.
Mahmudullah Riyad plays only in ODI format. In a sense, he voluntarily retired from Tests. The team did not consider him for T20. He was also in the ODI exclusion list. The initial plan for the 2023 World Cup was not even his name. So the selectors rested him for a long time before the World Cup. Basically he was left out under the guise of rest. Mahmudullah Riyad was kept in the 15-man squad as there was no alternative for him in the World Cup squad. And Mahmudullah Riyad played cricket in the whole World Cup, the selectors will write his name first for the next one-day series! But the problem is that Mahmudullah's future cricket is very short. Surely Mahmudullah will not be in the eleventh plan of the next World Cup four years from now. BCB could not give him any farewell certificate for Test and T20 farewell. The opportunity to overcome that sorrow has come before the cricket board. Mahmudullah must also know that it is more dignified to move while there is time before being removed.
Among the five Pandavas, Mushfiqur Rahim is the fittest. He said goodbye to T-20 a few years ago. He plays ODIs and Tests only. He is the only batsman in the Test XI. In ODIs, he still handles the additional responsibility of keeping with gloves. BCB agreed to wait the longest to stage a farewell for him. Mushfiqur's career in the national team is probably the longest among the Panchapandavs.
For the past one year, Tamim Iqbal has been more talked about off-field incidents-accidents, arguments-controversies, dignity-humiliation, anger-emotions than cricket on the field. He quit cricket at this time. He returned to cricket within 24 hours. He was the captain. He relinquished the captaincy. He was planning the World Cup. But dropped out. His recent feud with former friend Shakib is the worst headline in Bangladesh cricket! There is no guarantee when he will recover from his back injury. He and BCB do not know when Bangladesh will get him again in field cricket. There are no specific guidelines. Has Tamim Iqbal been able to play a strong role in recent times in fulfilling the necessary conditions that we hear about the urge, the feeling and the strong will to play in the national team? The way Tamim showed desperate interest to play in the World Cup, now in the rush to play a Test or ODI series for the national team, what is lacking is the opener's temperament and desire.
Tamim Iqbal has seen the beginning of his end in Bangladesh cricket. BCB can make a farewell crest for him!
What Shakib Al Hasan does is pretty much announced. He said before the World Cup that this tournament is the end of his captaincy. He will also quit ODI cricket after playing in the 2025 Champions League. Undoubtedly, Shakib is the most influential cricketer ever to play for Bangladesh. He is not according to the will of BCB, rather BCB runs according to his will and decision. Shakib showed another surprise at the end of the World Cup. He fell in the national elections. Now he wants to become an MP. Shakib appeared on the stage of politics from the field of play. To continue both sports and politics want. His family lives abroad. He has to run to his family in the United States whenever he gets time between games. Busy in business. He also has to keep the schedule of opening showrooms regularly. All in all, the Shakib of cricket is now less in cricket, more elsewhere.
BCB should release him from cricket engagement.
The origin of the word Panchpandava from the time of the 2015 World Cup. Although these five have already played together in the national team but the success of the 2015 World Cup and subsequent years of bilateral series under Mashrafe's leadership was greater than the achievements of these five. One or the other of these Panchpandavas played a key role in almost all the major victories of that time. Photographing these five men in one frame was a favorite for cricket photographers.
That photo frame is broken. All of these five people will never be found in one group, even in one picture frame!
BCB should look ahead and take a bold decision.