DHAKA: BPL 2015 has reached its crescendo. The curtain will drop after the final tomorrow (December 15). While the matches created lots of excitements and enthusiasm it also left behind few controversies and possible scandals which may let off bad breath after the tournament is over.
One such allegation is the toss manipulation allegation. There is no doubt that such tournaments present opportunity for young players getting exposure to international cricket.
For Bangladesh it is more important as it plays very little T20 international and its record in that version of cricket is not palatable. But was BCB well and truly guarded against the dark side of T20 tournaments where evil syndicate go all out in betting and match fixing?
A leading electronic media of Bangladesh has aired footage-supported allegation for possible toss manipulation of some matches of BPL 2015. Given that teams winning the toss and letting opponent bat first have won most of the matches intensifies doubt that a powerful syndicate with the evil intention of making fortune through betting may have done this. Anyway, the electronic media says there may be likely an investigation.
Two relatively unfancied teams Comilla Victorians and Barisal Bulls have reached the final of BPL 2015. The match is scheduled to be played tomorrow. Off the six franchises, the two finalists were relatively weaker in matter of recruitment. They did not feature in most pre-tournament expert previews.
Mashrafe Bin Mortaza has a proven track record of leading under strength teams to winning competitions. For that matter Comilla qualifying for the final has not surprised many. But under strength Barisal overpowering strong Dhaka Dynamites and tournament favorite Rangpur Riders, are significant events.
Moreover, Bulls won most matches without their tramp card Chris Gayle. Without taking away any credits from Victorians and Bulls the nature in which some teams exploded in some matches raised doubts and confusions of back door parleys.
We have seen the TV footage of the alleged toss manipulation. The match referee announces the result of the toss with the coin on the surface. But in the alleged case that was not done. The views of captains were covered while picking the coin and announcing later. Hope it was unintentional and nothing was done. We have great confidence in that particular match referee. But since it has been widely reported and even from Australia we viewed it must be neutrally investigated.
BPL T20 definitely entertained many. It created opportunities for Bangladesh cricketers for rubbing shoulders and sharing the dressing rooms with some international super stars. Some talented youngsters have emerged and some national players could iron out their skills and temperament for the shortest version of the game.
Bangladesh will soon participate in Asia Cup to be played in T20 format in its own backyard. Then it has to play first the qualification round for T20 world cup in India. If qualified they play in the elite group of 10. Can we say BPL 2015 was ideal preparation for that?
The wickets were mostly not conducive for playing ideal T20 brand of cricket in most cases. The umpiring was in general substandard. There were genuine allegations of attempted favoring franchise belonging to persons in influential positions of BCB.
Going back a little, BPL 3 version was delayed after ICC commissioned enquiry surfaced match fixing in the second BPL. There were genuine allegations of nonpayment to players by the franchise. Some players including Bangladesh Icon Ashraful was given long term ban. This is not unique in Bangladesh.
Even major scandals were surfaced in IPL. Two main teams Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals got ban for two years. Some players were even arrested.
BCB dared to venture for BPL 3. BCB shouldered responsibility of payment partially. But the structure of BPL 3 created controversy right from the start. Persons serving in present BCB and some persons having strong links with BCB were allowed direct or indirect ownership of franchise. BCB directors got directly involved in franchise management. ICC was not requested to commission ACSU for policing transparency.
We are not indicating to anything. But we are recording apprehension that if major incident of online betting, toss manipulations or any other covert method of scandal are surfaced after the tournament will that serve the interest of Bangladesh Cricket? The possibilities are there are favored teams could not get through and many investing on online betting must have lost their fortune.
But it is encouraging that youngsters like Mustafiz, Abu Haider Rony, Zahurul Islam and Al Amin had wonderful BPL. Sabbir, Liton and Kayes found their feet. Tamim batted to his reputation. Perhaps players like Soumya and Rony could realize their limitations of temperament from repeated failures.
We are not sure what Bangladesh Cricket achieved in spending much higher foreign exchange payments to most of the ordinary foreign players than even the Bangladesh top players? Will there be any soul searching ever? Is there any fair business ombudsman in Bangladesh to police this?
BDST: 1321 HRS, DEC 14, 2015
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