DHAKA: We are getting very frustrating reports about the conducting of cricket operations in Bangladesh when Cricket of Bangladesh is on the threshold of major development.

Bangladesh made enviable progress in international cricket over the last one year or so mainly due to extraordinary performance of some established top players and some quality emerging players. It is time now to consolidate the success and move from here. But very weak and sick domestic cricket management makes the growth of cricket very uncertain.

So many controversies and so many biased decisions to favor certain clubs by CCDM and BCB have made domestic league almost a farce. Print and electronic media are regularly publishing reports baout the incidents with credible evidences but BCB seems reluctant in taking remedial actions. This way, not only the future of domestic cricket will get uncertain but it may soon affect the performance of National team.

The Dhaka Premiere League (DPL), we all know, is the main breeding ground of domestic cricket. It was silly that it could start only during the onset of monsoon in May. Who did not know that matches would get affected by monsoon rain? Why BCB could not slot in earlier?

Is controversial BPL more important than the local league? Who mostly get benefited from controversial BPL? Black money holders grab the opportunity for money laundering through foreign recruits. People owning franchise has no commitment for local cricket.

Still BCB executives prefer it over other forms as they are also part of this circus. We must not forget that BPL made serious damage to Bangladesh cricket already in losing one of the top Bangladesh cricket talent Mohammad Ashraful losing 5 years of his prime time . Still BCB is keener on BPL, keener on international cricket than consolidating the keen interest that has been developed in cricket all over Bangladesh.

Coming back to DPL, we find some BCB executives’ linked clubs get illegal benefits in many ways. They are favored with utterly biased and poor umpiring, changing of venues as and when required. It is all right for giving BCB representative characteristic BCB officials represent different clubs and District Cricket Associations. But once they are in BCB they must delink from respective clubs and DSAs for the greater interest of the game.

But most of the BCB executives now represent or cater the interest of two or three clubs and franchise now. They exploit their position in extracting undue advantages for the club and for the franchise. The absolute control of a certain controversial business house which also runs a particular club is overwhelmingly evident. All these led to a huge controversy marked first leg of Dhaka Premiere Division Cricket League. At least two favored teams went through and one team escaped relegation for the well-designed acts of the evil syndicate.

Poor umpiring and biased umpiring influenced results of few matches which mattered in genuine teams not qualifying and favored teams getting through. The same controversial umpires were allocated for the matches of the favored teams and they obliged with biased decisions. There have many so many revealing reports in the media. When the luckiest team was not playing well in the programmed venue it was changed in short notice to favor them.

The last nail in the local cricket league coffin was pegged when a wicket in BKSP was deliberately not dried to keep the match going. The match if played could lead to a certain team getting relegated. The tied/ drawn match resulted in point splitting and the favored team escaping the relegation.

Why a national team manager has to work with a local team? He is a paid manager and it is definitely a conflict of interest. The particular person is with a particular franchise and particular club. There are talks that he will also become a part of the selection committee.

There are some reports that he may also act as manager of Mustahfiz when he will play in English county. It seems that he is a superman having several wings. When such a person is with a certain team that team will get additional favour for sure as he has blessing of senior policy makers of BCB.

Bangladesh must play more tests and more international cricket. But lack of proper exposure and rapport with ICC Bangladesh does not get its deserving share of international cricket. India was supposed to host Bangladesh this year for the first time in 16 years .But till writing this report it is not certain when that will happen.

Bangladesh so far has played tests in Australia only once. It may not happen before 2018 that Bangladesh gets another opportunity for playing there. Teams within the reach of Bangladesh, West Indies and Pakistan are playing more cricket while Bangladesh is struggling to get matches.

If Bangladesh does not at least 10 tests and 20 ODI and T20 every season players cannot maintain their forms and fitness. It appears that before October this year Bangladesh cannot play any test. We are not sure other than Mahabub Anam who else have right contacts with top Cricket officials of other countries?

Coming back to local cricket the super six rounds will start soon. Some clubs have made complaints to BCB president against irregularities of CCDM. Will BCB take remedial actions?

If it remains business as usual more controversies will be created and we are not sure whether the Dhaka Premiere league would witness a finish this season. The monsoon in the meantime is also set to commence in full spate.

BDST: 1112 HRS, JUN 10, 2016
BD