Bangladeshi Journalist’s ‘Personal Attacks’ on Litton After Asian Games Defeat

Sports Desk

After the semi-final of the Asian Games, the Bangladesh cricket team has to return empty-handed after losing to the second-tier team of Sri Lanka in the bronze medal match. After such a disaster, captain Liton Das and the entire team are in the dock. However, in the official press conference organized after the match, personal attacks and unwanted verbal exchanges by the Bangladeshi journalists present became the main focus rather than discussing the performance on the field, which has raised various questions in the sports arena.

When asked to explain the defeat after the match, Liton readily accepted responsibility for the defeat and gave credit to the opposing batter Tharindu Ratnayake. He also frankly admitted his poor form (2 runs in the first match and 0 runs in the bronze match), saying, “My performance was not up to the mark. I could not perform well in both the matches.”

However, the heat flared up with the questions that followed. Some of the Bangladeshi journalists present asked several objectionable and incisive questions, comparing the cricket team’s failure with that of athletes from other low-income or disadvantaged sports in the country. Unwelcome comments were made, going beyond the athletes’ performances to their personal lives and social situations.

Even a Bangladeshi journalist directly said that athletes in other sports are winning medals even though they don’t have shoes on their feet or food in their homes, and cricketers are ‘making the country a mess’ despite getting all the benefits. Some journalists kept making such aggressive and emotional statements about the cricket team, asking, ‘Has the Bangladesh team become so cheap to you?’ or ‘Are you remorseful?’

Liton Das was extremely annoyed at this behavior that was against professional sports journalism. When pressure was repeatedly put on him to resign without giving him a chance to express his views in a heated situation, Liton said in a mix of anger and annoyance, “Shall I resign? Well, I resigned from the Asian Games. Next question please.”

Responding to a section of Bangladeshi journalists’ criticism of the players’ going out of the hotel and eating habits during the tournament, Liton presented a realistic picture. He said that the organizers lacked adequate facilities for practice and the quality of food provided was not suitable for the athletes. As a result, the cricketers had to go out to eat to meet their physical and energy needs.

Constructive criticism of the team and captain after a failure in a tournament is very normal. However, the incident of direct personal attacks and disrespectful behavior by Bangladeshi journalists present at an official press conference on an international stage, while avoiding professional questions, has sparked discussion in the sports community.