The hastily taken harsh (?) actions of BCB against a Bangladeshi Cricket Icon (?) Shakib Al Hasan has triggered huge debate among his and Bangladeshi cricket enthusiasts at home and abroad. 

We have read many Facebook postings, comments and reports in Bangladesh and international media. No sensible self-respecting Bangladeshi or any international cricket personality can support the recent actions, attitudes and gestures of Shakib. 

But the punishment there on  like six months ban from all type of cricket, debarring him from playing any other league in other countries till 31 December 2015 are also  considered way too harsh for a player who brought few laurels for the country and also glorified the country and nation. 

Only a few days back he represented the Bengalese of both ends of Bangladesh and Indian border in widely televised IPL T20. He was among the top performer. Not only that he is among the top all-rounder in the ICC ranking and topped the list on few occasions. But all these though in no way justify some of his recent arrogant attitudes and gestures.

We will not contest the rights and authority of BCB in taking the punitive action against a defaulting playing in contract with BCB according to BCB code of conduct. May be he was overdue for some his questionable attitude in the past. But why this time he was not formally charged issuing him a written show cause and waiting for his response? 

The extent of adverse reactions in the local and international media, Facebook, twitter suggests that it will be impossible for BCB to stand firm on its decision and may be challenged in the court even. A person cannot be penalized without giving him adequate opportunity to defend even if he is killer. Are we hanging even the war Criminals against those, there are huge evidence of murder, raping and arsenal. Then why BCB had to rush into such punitive action? 

Yes it was unbecoming of Shakib threatening to leave playing tests and ODI for Bangladesh in response to an advice of Bangladesh Cricket coach for returning to Bangladesh after he left to play in CPL without formal NOC of BCB. 

Whatever great player he might be country and the nation must be always considered higher and greater. No doubt Shakib acted irresponsibly and exposed himself to punitive actions. But after he returned and started realizing his mistakes BCB could have handled in such a way we call “Kill the Snake but do not break the stick. “We are not aware of what happened when Shakib met the BCB president. Did he behave irrationally? 

The situation demands explanation from BCB what prompted BCB into a hasty decision? Why Shakib could be issued a show cause notice asking him to explain his actions and also questioning him why appropriate punitive measures would not be taken against him? By taking actions without formally letting him explain in his defense BCB has left behind more questions than providing answers. Many are now asking whether it is a national and international conspiracy against Shakib as we know what goes behind the Scene in IPL and international cricket. Did Shakib annoy any mafia syndicate which is very active in international cricket including Bangladesh?

A few days back another Icon cricketer Mohammad Ashraful got a severe punishment for his alleged involvement in match fixing which he himself admitted. Many questioned whether Ashraful was made the sacrificial goat? Can a match fixing be done with a group of people not being active behind the entire episode? Was that action taken to protect the mafia syndicate which must have already entered Bangladesh Cricket arena? Now the hurried action against Shakib will only strengthen that apprehension.

Many questions will arise. Why BCB hibernated so long? There are so many issues, so many controversies. Very lenient attitude of BCB all along encouraged some cricketers over step the battery limits on occasions. Few of them including Shakib talked to media breaching the code of conduct and got away unpunished. Few of them were busy in activities other than cricket and were riding on leniency of BCB. There have been so many questions raised of biased team selection and possible internal rifts in the team and its management? Bangladesh in recent time played well below its potential starting from Sri Lanka -Bangladesh bilateral tour and through Asia Cup, World T 20 and very recently against an Indian second grade team. 

We thought BCB owed the nation an explanation for the continued abysmal performance of the national team which only a few months back white washed a full strength New Zealand team and competed admirably against West Indies. 

But BCB did nothing. Many alleged of malpractice and corruption in matters related to organization of international cricket which if audited impartially can be evidenced.  There are no justifiable reasons why the Australian coach and the coaching staff left Bangladesh without completing assignments. There is no acceptable justification why and how the present coach and coaching staff was selected. There are many such unresolved questions which have made the environment inside and around BCB unhealthy.  In this unhealthy environment more such incident like Shakib and Ashraful may happen any time.

Shakib and Ashraful were reasons for making Bangladesh proud to cricket world on many occasions in the past. They have lion share of Bangladesh achievement in Cricket and it is for cricket Bangladesh is known in many countries.

BCB and some of its irresponsible officials cannot also escape blame for these rotten apples Shakib and Ashraful. 

Going back to the comment of Yusuf Rahman Babu in recent discussion on Bangladesh Cricket we can reiterate. “Cows could not be milked when inside the Barn and now it has become difficult to Shackle the Frankenstein that BCB itself created.”

The suggested way forward now could be Shakib appealing for review and get the entire episode thoroughly investigated and ending with an unconditional written apology from Shakib and issuing him a token suspension for a period of 3 months and hefty fines. 

After all he is our challenge to the cricket world. He should also have some session with a good psychiatrist as we feel he has attitude issues.

BDST: 0824 HRS, JUL 08, 2014