Salahuddin denies favouritism amid Bangladesh’s 2025 dressing room tensions

Bangladesh cricket’s difficult 2025 has taken another tense turn, with assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin hitting back at speculation surrounding his role and influence ahead of the third T20I against Sri Lanka. A year marked by on-field struggles and off-field drama has only worsened during their ongoing tour of Sri Lanka, where they’ve already lost both the Test and ODI series, with just one T20I remaining.

Their string of defeats, including series losses to UAE, Pakistan, and Zimbabwe, has put the team under immense pressure. And now, tensions within the camp have become increasingly public. Salahuddin, who was appointed primarily as batting coach in November last year, found himself at the centre of controversy during a fiery pre-match press conference.

Responding to reports that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) may be seeking a new batting coach, Salahuddin spoke candidly. "My role in this team isn’t fixed permanently. If someone better comes along, it's good for the team," he said. “This team doesn’t belong to my father or grandfather.”

Bangladesh battles poor form and growing tensions ahead of the final match in Sri Lanka

While acknowledging his accountability for the team’s underwhelming batting performances over the past nine months, Salahuddin appeared most upset by suggestions that he’s exerting undue influence over team selection. With nearly three decades of experience and deep ties with several current players, he's faced accusations of favouritism, allegations he strongly denies.

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“After coaching for 27-28 years, suddenly I’m hearing there are many complaints. Let me see those in writing,” he said. “If changes are needed for the team’s benefit, I’ll be the first to step aside.”

The team’s internal issues have been simmering for weeks. Last month, Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto resigned from the role, claiming there were “too many captains” in the dressing room, a comment that revealed deeper leadership fractures. Currently, Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz lead the T20I and ODI sides, respectively.

As Bangladesh prepares for the final match of their tour, the cricketing spotlight is firmly fixed not just on their performance, but on how and whether they can begin to heal their divided camp.