The much-talked-about high voltage BPL 2015 the third edition of T20 tournament of Bangladesh has just concluded. Two of the least fancied sides of the six Comilla Victorians and Barisal Bulls played a thrilling final. Mashrafe Mortaza led Comilla Victorians won the match on the last ball of tournament.
As far as entertainment, excitements, thrills, surprises were concerned BPL2015 provided in plenty. But as far as quality of cricket is concerned BPL2015 could not live up to expectations. Experts and analysts have started post mortem, pains and gains of BPL 2015.
If one asks BCB executives, they will echo in one voice that BPL2015 was targeted for proving the much-required exposure to quality T20 cricket. But given the poor quality of wickets unsuitable for competitive cricket, substandard umpiring and some controversial matches we cannot say local cricket and cricketers were much benefited.
The ensuing T20 tournaments: Asia Cup to be played for the first time on T20 format and T20 World Cup will be played on sporting surfaces prepared under the supervision of ICC curators.
How did Bangladeshis benefitted playing on low slow difficult to play aggressive cricket wickets? At this time of early winter, it is not impossible to prepare sporting wickets. We understand there must have been huge budget allocated for wicket preparation. But then why wickets were so terrible?
Score of 150 + in most of the matches proved match winning. Many good batting teams struggled to score even 100 in many innings. Without taking any credit away from Comilla Victorians and Barisal Bulls, we can say with assurance that scores under 80s and fewer than 60 in matches created genuine doubts about fairness of such matches.
There are media reports of massive betting on toss, batting power play scores and results of matches. People betting on lesser favorites must have made fortune. When senior BCB officials have stakes in different franchise, the BCB chapter of ACSU will be ineffective in exploring the allegations of match fixing.
Top players of major test playing countries (Australia, India, England, New Zealand, South Africa ) for international commitments or otherwise. Players from Pakistan mostly dominated overseas recruits. For reasons best known to the organizers, even lesser known foreign players reportedly were contracted at higher fees than the local icons.
Two top draws Chris Gayle and Shahid Afridi appeared in only few matches. Some players contracted with KFC big bash left early. Some players like Wahab Riaz, Misbah, and Irfan for reasons best known to franchise did not appear regularly. Rangpur Riders had regular batting issues yet they preferred to keep Misbah in the dugout.
Local youngster Abu Haider Rony of Comilla Victorians was a revelation. The teenager left arm pacers bowled with pace moving the ball prodigiously. Mystery boy Mustafiz kept fooling batsmen with his cleverly concealed cutters.
Blaster Chris Gayle was cleaned up like an ordinary mortal in the very first ball. Steady bowlers Mohammad Shahid and Shaiful bowled well within themselves. Injury affected master craftsman Mashrafe bowling as and when required showed his skills.
Taskin and Rubel returning from injury failed to get back into rhyme. Shakib had inconsistent bowling performance. Musharraf Rubel, Saqlain Sajib and Arafat Sunny were the peaks among the spinners.
Tamim, Mushfique, Mahmudullah were more of less consistent with the batting. But among the locals Imrul Kayes was the hero with the bat. Zahurul Islam and Shahriar Nafis batting admirably proved that they were far from finished.
Alok Kapali with a wonderful innings in the final stole the limelight. Shabbir played two important aggressive innings. Nasir was consistent but not outstanding. The biggest disappointments were Soumya Sarkar, Anamul Huq, Liton Das and Rony Talukdar. They miserably failed to adapt to wickets and showed lack of temperament.
We cannot say Tamim, Shakib and Mushfique led their teams with imagination. No one can match with Mashrafe as captain. But BPL 2015 showed Mahmudullah has great quality to lead an ordinary team to success.
Mahamudullah is quality batsman and good enough spinner to walk into Bangladesh team in any format. He was deputy to Mushfique in not too distant past. He is a pleasing personality and non-controversial. It will be appropriate considering him as deputy to Mashrafe in limited over versions and deputy to Mushfique in test now.
What Can Be The Bangladesh Squad for T20?
Some fringe players redeemed and some new talents emerged .Though one tournament cannot be the basis for major changes in a settled squad .Yet considering form, quality and temperament the following can be the squad of 15 for T20 for Bangladesh at least in early 2016.
Tamim Iqbal , Imrul Kayes , Soumya Sarkar , Zahurul Islam , Mahmudullah Riyad, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan , Shabbir Rahman , Nasir Hossain, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza , Arafat Sunny, Mustafizur Rahman , Abu Haider Rony, Taskin Ahmed and Al Amin Hossain. Bowlers like Rubel and Shafiul need more time to recover from injury and Shahid has already established himself a test bowler.
Players like Mominul must not be wasted in limited version and be preserved for the longer version. Alok Kapali and Shahriar Nafees should be considered for test.
How BPL in Future Should Be Organized?
We understand BCB has an elected body of executives committed for planned development of cricket in Bangladesh. Cannot understand how BCB executives involving themselves in different franchises can serve better in the overall development of cricket in Bangladesh.
Their involvement encourages controversies and corruptions. The alleged betting and match fixing (?) has lot to do with several key BCB executives getting directly involved with different franchise.
If BPL has to serve in any positive way, the Bangladesh cricket all BCB executives must delink with franchises. Tournament committee cannot work freely and independently if senior BCB officials, directors run franchises.
We will strongly suggest that local icons paid more than any foreign recruit. All payments must be done in transparent manner and tax deductible. Every team must recruit at least 4 players of aged group under 19 categories.
Sporting wickets must be prepared if necessary through hiring ICC curators. International match referees must also be there alongside locals. ACSU of ICC must be there to police match fixing.
The tournament must be scheduled in such a way that major test playing countries can spare their top players for the tournament. Bangladesh is no longer is a minnow than any ordinary international player has to be hired at cutthroat price.
Given the pains and gains of BPL taken due note of successful completion of BPL 2015 has proved again Bangladesh ability of hosting major cricket tournaments .The security of foreign players and officials were exemplary. Bangladesh is definitely one of the safest places for playing cricket.
BDST: 0852 HRS, DEC 18, 2015
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