When all ICC member countries are doing everything possible to resume normal cricket operation BCB not even making half hearted efforts for preparing the men and women’s team ready for bilateral and international cricket. England taking extraordinary out of the box initiatives prepared two venues (Rose Bowl, Southampton and Emirates Stadium, Old Trafford) and positively persuaded West Indies, Pakistan and Ireland sending their teams to England for bilateral series. Australia and New Zealand have started training maintaining Bio Security protocol. Other teams South Africa, Sri Lanka are also in much advanced stages in preparing their teams. In Bangladesh government offices, different businesses are operating in different capacities maintaining CORONA protocol. BCCI through usual Cricket diplomacy managed to confirm slot for its IPL in UAE as ICC T20 and Asia Cup got suspended.
Only BCB was seen hibernating all the way. Several players were pressing for letting them practice at indoor and outdoor. After spending months, the limited facility has just opened for them. Several bilateral series involving Bangladesh were suspended. Sri Lanka proposed to take Bangladesh team on chartered plane for the bilateral test series scheduled in FTA. Bangladesh could discuss about taking the team few weeks early for preparing the team there. But BCB did not avail the opportunity. Now BCB is planning to prepare training for its High Performance Unit. Consideration is there for sending them to Sri Lanka for training. There is not much eagerness to resume domestic cricket. But they have started talking about scandalous BPL. Several experts observed that with smart cricket diplomacy Bangladesh could schedule bilateral series with New Zealand or any other team or organize Bangladesh – Australia, Bangladesh –New Zealand bilateral series in UAE. But in World Cricket forum who cares Bangladesh though BCB boss prides on himself as ACC President. There are so many capable local coaches for training HP unit. But BCB needs foreign coach. I have seen myself how for mismanagement of Indian Coach Bangladesh women team lost opportunity of winning matches in T20 world cup in Australia? What is the driving motive of BCB going for foreign coaches all the time? Why the only think about BPL? What BPL has given to Bangladesh cricket?
The inactivity of BCB will create situation for Bangladesh as least prepared team when its men and women team would be required to appear in global tournaments in 2021. England (UK) no less affected by COVID19. If ECB could take extraordinary initiatives for resuming cricket why Bangladesh could take no initiative for even preparing their players? What the hell the paid officials were doing all these months? If Government officials can work, if industry workers can keep the industries going, why BCB could not arrange practice session for the players? Why no initiative could be taken for resuming local league? These evidence that BCB has not yet grown as a professional entity. There is no planning, no marketing expertise.
This BCB management has no effective plan for domestic cricket, no expertise in cricket diplomacy, no marketing skill for branding cricket. Under their leadership cricket will continue going down progressively. We have seen how scandalous is Bangladesh health sector when COVID19 pandemic avalanched. Cricket management is no less scandalous as few of its directors have been already alleged for misdeeds. Hope before cricket crisis strikes government will take the matter seriously.
BDST: 1625 HRS, JULY 23, 2020
AP
