DHAKA: Over almost the last two years Bangladesh Cricket was enjoying success in different formats of the game. Tigers almost became invincible in ODI cricket at home. Clear signs of improvement were being noticed in test cricket also.

Nothing changed much excepting continued experiments with the team. The many structure of the team remained unchanged. But selection committee, its composition and tasks witnessed revolutionary changes.

Bangladesh started its difficult cricket campaign at the end of the year 2016 in New Zealand. Not unexpectedly it was started viewing the other side of the moon. In three matches ODI series and three matches T20 series New Zealand comprehensively whitewashed Bangladesh. It was not that Bangladesh did not have many moments of joy in the two series. But the players could hardly perform as a team as a well-coordinated unit to consolidate and exploit these opportunities. Perhaps too much interference was made in selection of touring squad and playing eleven.

We could not find any logic behind touring with a large squad led to all these. We could not observe any benefit from the expensive acclimatization episode in Sydney. Finally, it sounded comical that senior official of BCB regularly made moral destroying media statement about team and players from Dhaka.

Bangladesh was thought of proving more competitive in ODI series at least. Not to speak of whitewashing Kiwis in home series, even in last ICC World Cup pool match Bangladesh almost beat inform New Zealand in their own backyard. But in ODI series senior players could neither shoulder responsibility nor could inspire new comers. Not selecting Nasir and not playing Rubel in ODI series had no explanation. Nasir can walk into all forms of cricket as automatic choice well ahead of Mosaddek, Shuvagata or likes. He could have been our major all-rounder in the series. His bowling could be useful, his late middle order aggressive batting could create match winning situation. While talking all these, let’s not forget about his fielding prowess that can inspire any team.

A fit again Rubel is our strike pacer in all formats now. When Mustafiz is not yet match fit (?) Rubel should have been main striking weapon in ODI series. He proved with his wicket taking ability in T20 series that omitting him in ODI series was a blunder. He was not even included in original squad. Why not quality off spinner Miraz not played? It was a crime not playing regular off spinner especially when Kiwis had many left handers. 

How could very ordinary Tanbir be preferred? Being under dog in the series how could Bangladesh make experiment with rookies?

The consequence was obvious. Even Charismatic Mashrafe putting his best failed to inspire the team. Bangladesh got comprehensively whitewashed in ODI and T20 series. We are not unaware of New Zealand’s invincibility in home condition. But at the same time quality wise Bangladesh was not far behind. But Bangladesh performed well below par. The body language of senior players looked negative. Mahmudullah looked lacking spirit. Words got around that Mustafiz was not feeling well in the dressing room. Mushfique remained unavailable for two ODIs and entire T20 series getting injured. Finally, Mashrafe got injured.

Bangladesh achieved a respectable position in ICC ODI ranking whitewashing Pakistan, winning ODI series against India and South Africa at home. The ascendancy started from last ICC World Cup, more specifically after charismatic captain Mashrafe taking over limited over cricket leadership. Established matured cricketers started taking more responsibilities, new players like Taskin, Mustafiz and Soumya started emerging. But cricket management could hardly keep pace with rapidly improving cricket standard.

Few self-styled experts and politically favored persons instead of committing selfless time and energy for institutionalize cricket started self-seeking. Senior professionals like Abdur Razzak, Shahriar Nafees, Naeem Islam, and established players like Arafat Sunny, Nasir Hossain, Anamul Haque were ignored. Rising stars like Mominul Haque and Jubair Hossain have been mismanaged. No initiatives were taken for quality improvement of domestic cricket. Consequently, no reliable pipeline for quality players could be created though successes in cricket brought many youngsters taking up cricket seriously. But for the absence of institutions and grassroots establishments, talent hunting and channeling could not be established. If done so by this time more Mustafiz, more Miraz, more Taskins could have been created. 

Youngsters could create challenges for Tamim, Shakib, Mushfique and Mahmudullah. We have seen how the absence of one Mushfique has completely disarrayed middle order batting. There must be soul searching why these did not happen?

We are listening to gossips that selectors used to get texts from senior BCB official about team combination instead themselves preparing list and sending it for approval. We also listened that head coach regularly bypassed Director (Cricket Operations). He established short circuit with BCB top policy makers. We had seen how never heard anywhere head coach and team manager were included in selection committee. We are now noticing a remote-control team selection. We are not sure how much damage these have already done to Bangladesh Cricket.

One must appreciate that cricket has come to this stage through sacrifice of many committed personalities of the past. Some Tom, Dick and Harry have not done anything with Aladdin’s wonder lamp. No one has any right of destroying it with whims.

We hope that government would conduct a thorough postmortem of New Zealand tour and probe into affairs of Bangladesh Cricket before it gets too late.

BDST: 1243 HRS, JAN 09, 2016
SR/SMS