Bangladesh had great opportunity for winning the top honors from just concluded Hero Nidahas triangular T20 tournament.
Losing from the last ball over boundary against the top team of the world India will always hurt and haunt Bangladesh. From the faces of the players on the ground and players in the dug out the frustrations of near miss once again were overflowing. It was the second near miss opportunity for beating mighty India in T20 in major tournament.
The earlier one was in ICC T20 World Cup when Bangladesh failed to score only 3 runs in the last over with two unsung heroes Mahmudullah and Mushfiq crumbling like cookies under pressure. Here in Colombo ignoring the vociferous Lankan crowd backing India Bangladesh put up a challenging 166/7 in allotted overs.
India started storming towards the target from yet another Rohit Sharma blitz. But brilliant spell 3 overs from Rubel stagnated Indian reply mid way. Fizz bowling a maiden 18th over made India climbing mount Everest. As it often happens in such do and die situation Karthik appeared with this guns and caught hold of Rubels 19 th over blasting 23 priceless runs. In such situation captain Shakib ran out of option. Part timer Soumya was given the responsibility of defending only 12 in the last over. He put his best under hot steamy tense situation till the last ball conceding only 7 from 5 deliveries. Desperate Karthik swung and snatched the match from the jaw of death for the Indians. There was very little to choose between the two teams, Bangladesh went down fighting. There has been very few and there will be very few such T20 matches full of thrills and excitement.
Now with the euphoria gone, let us recapitulate. Did we have the right team selected for the event? Did we have our best option opening the innings? Why we ignored Anamul Haque Bijoy? Was he not better option in place of Imrul Kayes or struggling Soumya Sarkar? Was Mominul not ideal for number three? What more he has to do to prove his quality as the best number three batsman in all formats? We have no doubt that Soumya has natural talent. But are we doing justice even to his talent carrying him despite his prolonged loss of form? Why Imrul Kayes was taken with the team? Why he was not tried even in one match though openers failed in almost every match? Why Soumya was sent in to bat at number four in the final match though in form Mushfiq was the best choice at that time. Soumya has genuine weakness against spin. What was wrong with Taskin not being tried in more matches? Courtney Walsh could have ironed out his temperament.
India is well beyond Bangladesh in all aspects of cricket. The fact that we are competing them well now speaks a lot of Bangladeshi cricketers playing under a very incompetent team management. We cannot compare cricket infrastructure, playing venues of India with Bangladesh. We cannot compare even a cricket infrastructure of any venue of India with Bangladesh. We try to follow IPL for our BPL. But we are nowhere. Few non professionals dominate BCB affairs and unfortunately some senior cricketers dance to their tune. Bangladesh cricket has no proper planning for identifying talents from grass root and maturing them in sound cricketing environment.
Like any other cricket playing nation young boys and girls are now emerging in plenty with immense talent. But for lack of care and proper nourishment they get lost along the way. Why Mustafiz is taking so much of time to mature? Why Mehedy Miraj is not in full bloom now? Why extremely talented Aminul Islam Bulbul is not even engaged full time for development squad and A team. He has great international reputation for coaching and mentoring. He also coaches umpires and match officials. We are aware that Mahbubur Rahman Selim is also doing great coaching works in Western Australia. We are aware of the achievements and contributions of Salahuddin, Sarwar Imran Fahim and Wahedul Gani. Why they are not being properly utilized.
India has greatly benefitted from IPL in finding young talented players. What we got from BPL? Why we allowed playing 5 foreign players in every match? Mominul and Bijoy played several great innings in BPL. Why he is continuously ignored?
People say one BCB director is agent of few players. Being in strategic position he forces some players into playing XI even if they fail. Is there any accountability in the team? If so spineless Selectors and Director, Cricket Operation would have resigned after debacle in January February in Tri-angular ODI series and Bi Lateral test series in against Sri Lanka.
We find little wrong in Bangladesh losing the match against India. India wins matches like this against any team of the world. They have immense resources of high quality talented players. Their Under 19 team winning the ICC World Cup is as good as many top teams. India in recent times tormented Strong South Africa in their own home ground. Yes Pakistan beat them in T20 world cup. But Bangladesh does not have Mohammad Amir or Hasan Ali yet. But Bangladesh has potential.
We need organization and dedicated honest organizers not gambling with cricket. Most of the present BCB officials have no cricketing background. Most of them have identity at all in Cricket. You can not grow apple in the lemon tree.
In retrospect I would congratulate Team tigers for their brave performances against all odds. But would like BCB answering the following:
• WHY WAS MASHRAFFE FORCED INTO INVOLUNTARY RETIREMENT FROM T20? Did it happen outside the knowledge of BCB President?
• WHY WAS MUSHFIQUE STRIPPED OFF CAPTAINCY ?
• WHY BANDLADESH IS DELAYING FINDING A FULL TIME HEAD COACH?
• How long a BCB director would have many feathers in his crown?
• When players would be selected purely on the basis of merit?
• When Bangladesh would have sporting wickets prepared for growth and development of quality all round cricketers?
Till my questions are answered in affirmative Bangladesh will never achieve sustainable success in cricket at any level.
BDST: 0816 HRS, MAR 20, 2018
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