Phil Simmons has asked Bangladesh’s players to leave their phones alone for a while. The head coach was speaking a day before the first ODI against West Indies, and his message was plain: the side has had enough noise since returning from the UAE.
Bangladesh beat Afghanistan 3-0 in the T20Is but were then soundly beaten 3-0 in the ODIs. When the squad landed in Dhaka on Wednesday a handful of supporters made their feelings known, shouting abuse in the arrivals hall. Mohammad Naim later posted his reaction online, and footage also showed Taskin Ahmed and his family being heckled.
“I don’t agree with players having anything to do with social media,” Simmons said. “It is your right as a person to be on social media, to say what you want on social media. But as an international player, as a national player for Bangladesh, my players should not be on there.”
The coach’s stance is hardly revolutionary. Bangladesh cricketers use Facebook and Instagram a fair bit, and the topic comes up inside the board more or less every season. No formal policy exists, so it remains down to individuals — which is exactly what worries Simmons. He feels the current squad, bruised by that ODI whitewash, could do without extra battles online.
Airport flashpoint
Naim, Taskin and a few others were the first targets. A phone camera captured the exchange; it spread quickly, as these clips always do, prompting the opening batter to respond on his own feed. Simmons wishes he had resisted. A short post can spiral, he pointed out, far quicker than a straight answer at a press conference.
Racial abuse aimed at wicketkeeper-batter Jaker Ali also troubled the coach. “I would say one thing, it is not nice to bring racial tones into anything to do with players,” Simmons said. “I don’t care where you’re from, the racial part of it against Jaker Ali I am disgusted with. That’s not nice. But I don’t want my players answering anything on social media.”
Uncomfortable history
The racism angle is not new in Bangladesh cricket. During the 2024 BPL, Comilla Victorians coach Mohammad Salahuddin highlighted Jaker’s absence from the national side and did not mince his words. “The boy is black, which is why the board doesn’t see him,” Salahuddin had said in February 2024. “He is playing well in the last few years. His strike rate has helped us as he scores important runs. He is a sensible cricketer. I think he should get a chance.”
The comment drew predictable backlash for the language used, even though Salahuddin was defending his player. Jaker made his international debut in October 2023 and has featured more regularly this year, but the episode remains a sore point. Simmons confirmed he is aware of the earlier remarks and wants to ensure nothing similar distracts the group during the West Indies series.
Analysis without the alarm bells
Simmons’ hard line on social media splits opinion. Modern players build personal brands online; sponsors often encourage it. Yet senior figures across cricket, not just in Bangladesh, worry that an off-the-cuff post can undo weeks of planning.
In this case the coach probably has a fair argument. Bangladesh’s supporters can be demanding, and after a 3-0 ODI defeat the players’ mentions were always going to be lively. A blanket “no posting” rule is blunt, but it buys 24 or 48 hours of calm, giving the squad space to switch focus to the West Indies.
On-field matters
Bangladesh will likely stick with the XI that ended the Afghanistan tour, though there is mild debate over the extra seamer’s slot. Taskin bowled nicely in the T20 leg; however, the ODI series exposed depth issues once the new ball got older. The Caribbean visitors, meanwhile, have arrived with a mix of experience and youngsters looking to impress before next year’s Champions Trophy qualifiers.
A series win would settle things quickly. Bangladesh’s ODI record at home is still solid, and early-evening crowds in Mirpur tend to support rather than sledge. Simmons just wants his squad to remember that backing and avoid any late-night scrolling.
Whether a total social-media blackout is realistic remains to be seen, but the coach’s broader point is clear enough: arguments in an airport foyer are pointless; the reply should come on the pitch.
