Bangladesh cricket at home condition is matured enough of competing against all opposition at least in limited version of the game. Over the last few years Bangladesh has developed infrastructures, playing facilities, players incentives almost to highest standards. Though the domestic format is still way behind general standard of England, Australia, India and Sri Lanka yet even in domestic league and tournaments Bangladeshi players play with quality foreign players.
In the recent past Bangladesh team performed admirably against West Indies, New Zealand and Sri Lanka raising the expectations of millions vocal Bangladeshi fans which follow them equally through thick and thin. When the same team performs way below its potential consistently question automatically arises about the cricket administration, team management, coaching staff and finally the team.
Bangladesh team playing poorly in Asian Cup and T20 on home ground has not only created heart sore of many but also triggered uncertainty about the future. With Caribbean tour knocking on the door and World Cup 2015 less than a year away, Bangladesh government not BCB requires carrying out an authentic and credible probe into lackluster Bangladesh’s performance.
BCB has requested head coach and captain to submit reports which is business as usual after any such performance. What about team management? What about selectors? What about BCB oversight? Can BCB take decision on the failure of its own people? Why Not BCB affairs should come under probe? BCB also asked all-rounder Saquib Al Hasan to explain how and under what authority he had given interview with a local newspaper during the tenure of the tournament? Saquib very clearly violated the players’ code of conduct. Since Saquib’s media interview is under sort of probe we are not going to discuss about it.
Controversy started surfacing around BCB since its recent managed election. Many believe that present BCB management hardly cares about domestic cricket development. They are more interested in constructing infrastructures. The present coaching staff is not up to the mark. Selection process of the team is questionable. Regular chopping and changing creates sense of insecurity among young players. Senior players often lack commitment.
Just before Asia Cup and T20 there was controversy about selecting team and vice-captain. Preparation of home team for Asia Cup and T20 World Cup was very poor. Moreover Bangladesh lost some close matches against Sri Lanka in bilateral series just before Asia Cup. Some key players were found to be complete out of form. Yet they were retained as there were not enough good players in the pipeline for poor vision and lack of professionalism of the BCB cricket think tank.
Then some proven performers were not selected in the team. For reference Zaiur Rahman was not in the T20 team till situation forced to bring him at the later stage. He was not utilized properly though. A proven performer Arafat Sunny was ignored. Another performer Sabbir Khan was underutilized. From butter fingers lopsided fielding it appeared that the players were shaky and panicked.
Consequently Bangladesh lost all matches in Asia Cup and even against associate member Afghanistan. In the last Asia Cup almost the same Bangladesh team beat stronger India and Sri Lanka and narrowly lost against Pakistan in the finals.
A few tiger fans raised question about host Bangladesh playing in the qualifying round of T20 where Bangladesh group had Afghanistan, Nepal and Hong Kong. But Bangladesh losing against lowly Hong Kong and Netherlands advancing ahead of Zimbabwe justified the ICC action of bottom two ICC full members playing qualifying round. Bangladesh could only qualify for the Super Round by better run rate. Then in T20 a demoralized and down spirited Bangladesh lost all matches against major oppositions by wide margins without creating any contest.
If one looks back in retrospect one finds really no clue why the same team which performed so admirably in the not too distant past performed so poor consistently. Bangladesh could not bounce back from shock defeat against Hong Kong. Leading players like Tamim, Mashrafee (not 100% fit), Mahamudullah and Nasir were completely out of touch. Saquib and Mushfiqur sparked in some matches but threw away the initiatives every time failing to lead the team to better results. Fielding was extremely poor. Several easy catches were dropped and easy run out chances were missed. Bangladesh proved to be worst performer of the 10 teams of the super round. It was a very frustrating performance of the home team.
Very committed cricket fans continued to stand behind the team and tried to encourage the team despite of abysmal performance. Even such all-out support and encouragement failed to bring out the best from the players. Rather one senior player unfortunately termed it additional pressure suggesting no home cricket for Bangladesh team for two years.
There must be something very wrong with BCB. There was no planning or strategy for Bangladesh in Asia Cup or T20 World Cup. The team management and coaching staff could not provide required guidance or support. They possibly lost control over the team.
Bangladesh will soon go to West Indies tour. The world Cup 2015 is not very far. Bangladesh must start re grouping soon. Any other self-respecting country government accountable to the people would constitute a high level committee to prove into substandard performance of the team. We hope Bangladesh will also do that.
The high powered committee can have ex Bangladesh cricket captains, reputed cricket organizers and senior cricket analysts (senior cricket journalists). Reputed sportsmen Manzoor Hasan Mintoo, Raquibul Hasan, Shafiqul Huq Heera, senior journalist Quamruzzaman, ex cricketer Shakil Kasem can be in the committee. The committee should have a TOR of investigating into reasons which led to such performance and fix responsibilities. There should not be any representations of present BCB or its affiliates in the committee.
BDST: 2100 HRS, APR 06, 2014
