Salahuddin quits domestic scene amid scrutiny over son's rise

The selection of 17-year-old chinaman bowler Nuhayel Sandeed for the Bangladesh Cricket Board's High Performance Unit raised eyebrows. Similar scrutiny followed his Dhaka Premier League debut and his sessions in the national nets. The persistent whispers suggested he was advancing due to his father's influence rather than his own skill. His father, Mohammad Salahuddin, is one of Bangladesh's most accomplished local coaches, making such accusations almost inevitable.

Salahuddin, a senior assistant coach with multiple domestic titles including the Bangladesh Premier League and Dhaka Premier League, announced a significant decision on Sunday. He will step away from coaching in domestic cricket to prevent his presence from hindering his son's career.

"Yes, it's true," Salahuddin told Cricbuzz. "I've felt that my son is growing up and has to play cricket. I think if I stay here, it will be a problem for him. People might say that his father is helping him, nepotism. So I don't want that. I want him to play on his own merit. If I stay, it might become an obstacle."

He expressed concern over the routine burden of favoritism conversations affecting his son. "Let him play on his merit, and at least he should be mentally free when he plays cricket. People say he is getting privilege because of me, and I can't do anything about it. That's exactly why it's better for me to stay away for his sake."

Salahuddin emphasized the psychological impact. "Every father is a hero to his son. If he sees his father being criticized, or people talking about him, it can mentally disturb him a lot. I feel that when he plays at a good level, in a good team, I should stay away. Maybe I will just support him from outside."

He extended this concern to his many students. "I have hundreds of students who love me. When they hear anything negative, it affects them mentally. If I stay away from professional cricket, it will probably help them a lot. They will be able to play properly. Their mental state should stay good."

Financially, Salahuddin is unconcerned. "I never think about money. Allah has given me a lot more than I deserved. More than money, my honour and dignity are more important."

He admitted he hasn't personally coached his son yet. "I really haven't coached him. When I leave this, then maybe I will personally coach him. The other coaches are watching him now, so let them handle it. When I leave, then maybe I will start looking after him."

Moving forward, Salahuddin plans to focus on academy work. "I feel that I won't do professional coaching, but I will work in academies, where I can work more freely. I will definitely work in academies to develop kids. My mental satisfaction is very important. If I don't have that, I can't work."

He also highlighted the growing importance of one-to-one coaching, citing the transformation of India's Abhishek Sharma. "I saw Abhishek Sharma six years ago at Sunrisers Hyderabad with Shakib Al Hasan. He was an ordinary, normal batter. Six years later, I was shocked by how well he bats now. He has always been doing one-to-one coaching with Yuvraj Singh. His batting has transformed. We should also come to this stage. One-to-one coaching is established in India. Ultimately, this might happen for us as well."