'Dhaka Warriors' versus BCCB
Sunday, 21 September 2008
Mohammad Ataul Haque
With the "banning" of the cricketers joining Indian Cricket League (ICL) from playing of cricket for ten years by the (Bangladesh Cricket Control Board (BCCB), the episode has now turned into an interesting one. Nobody understands why this waging of 'Holy' war by the BCCB against the poor cricketers. Generally people took the issue as a surprise but at the same time as complement for the Bangladeshi cricketers to be invited to an international tournament and were eagerly waiting for them to perform well and, thus, raise the country's status which the national team consistently failed. These cricketers, although very much talented, could not deliver well within the national team for various "undisclosed" constraints alleged by them which they are gradually disclosing now once they are out of the national arena. Perhaps, in a free atmosphere they may now come out with brilliant colors. Moreover, the amount of money offered was also irresistible setting aside the maltreatment the cricketers received at the hands of the BCCB.
I consider the incident as failure of the BCCB for its inability to retain and produce quality players to fill in any kind of vacuum. It is natural, players will come and go for various reasons and no one has the right to stop that. Therefore, the BCCB's hasty decision in this regard is absolutely premature and not well thought about. Perhaps to divert public criticism against them on the issue, the Board took this hasty irrational decision. The Board was found apparently busy in handling the administrative matters only leaving the most important matters of development of cricket and players in the country.
Where are the infrastructures, cricket tournaments at school levels and district levels etcetera? Why are all cricket activities centered in Dhaka only? A rebel cricketer disclosed, he did not know why he was axed from national team and what was his shortcomings and there was none in the team management to point out and rectify his mistakes. Moreover, it was extremely difficult for him to talk either to the Coach or any official for advise to rectify his mistakes or techniques. These are serious allegations which need to be resolved by the Board.
It clearly indicates there was no communication and understanding between the team management and the players. There existed wide gap between most of the players and the team management and the players were now complaining of being fish out of water. The Board was found busy all the time in dealing with the money matters only such as finding sponsors etc. So why blame the players alone.
The major portion of the burnt has to be borne by the BCCB. They cannot escape responsibility by simply passing the bucks on the shoulders of the players alone by slapping such uncalled-for punishment which even may not be legally viable if challenged at the court of law.
When the rumor about players joining the ICL came to their knowledge sometime back why was no contact made with the players to try to pacify them, instead of sitting on it? After all, what it matters to the cricketers now whether it is a life-term ban or ten-year ban, once they decided to leave cricket in the country. One thing for sure, the general sympathy from the public is in favour of the players. Therefore, I would urge the BCCB to concentrate more on proper discharging of their responsibilities and duties for development of cricket in the country in which sector they are yet to prove their capability. It is almost ten years now that Bangladesh got test status but in the international arena its performances have turned from bad to worse. Who is responsible for that? Certainly not the players, but the poor planning and guidance at the top. If the top is rotten, the bottom is also bound to become rotten.
With the "banning" of the cricketers joining Indian Cricket League (ICL) from playing of cricket for ten years by the (Bangladesh Cricket Control Board (BCCB), the episode has now turned into an interesting one. Nobody understands why this waging of 'Holy' war by the BCCB against the poor cricketers. Generally people took the issue as a surprise but at the same time as complement for the Bangladeshi cricketers to be invited to an international tournament and were eagerly waiting for them to perform well and, thus, raise the country's status which the national team consistently failed. These cricketers, although very much talented, could not deliver well within the national team for various "undisclosed" constraints alleged by them which they are gradually disclosing now once they are out of the national arena. Perhaps, in a free atmosphere they may now come out with brilliant colors. Moreover, the amount of money offered was also irresistible setting aside the maltreatment the cricketers received at the hands of the BCCB.
I consider the incident as failure of the BCCB for its inability to retain and produce quality players to fill in any kind of vacuum. It is natural, players will come and go for various reasons and no one has the right to stop that. Therefore, the BCCB's hasty decision in this regard is absolutely premature and not well thought about. Perhaps to divert public criticism against them on the issue, the Board took this hasty irrational decision. The Board was found apparently busy in handling the administrative matters only leaving the most important matters of development of cricket and players in the country.
Where are the infrastructures, cricket tournaments at school levels and district levels etcetera? Why are all cricket activities centered in Dhaka only? A rebel cricketer disclosed, he did not know why he was axed from national team and what was his shortcomings and there was none in the team management to point out and rectify his mistakes. Moreover, it was extremely difficult for him to talk either to the Coach or any official for advise to rectify his mistakes or techniques. These are serious allegations which need to be resolved by the Board.
It clearly indicates there was no communication and understanding between the team management and the players. There existed wide gap between most of the players and the team management and the players were now complaining of being fish out of water. The Board was found busy all the time in dealing with the money matters only such as finding sponsors etc. So why blame the players alone.
The major portion of the burnt has to be borne by the BCCB. They cannot escape responsibility by simply passing the bucks on the shoulders of the players alone by slapping such uncalled-for punishment which even may not be legally viable if challenged at the court of law.
When the rumor about players joining the ICL came to their knowledge sometime back why was no contact made with the players to try to pacify them, instead of sitting on it? After all, what it matters to the cricketers now whether it is a life-term ban or ten-year ban, once they decided to leave cricket in the country. One thing for sure, the general sympathy from the public is in favour of the players. Therefore, I would urge the BCCB to concentrate more on proper discharging of their responsibilities and duties for development of cricket in the country in which sector they are yet to prove their capability. It is almost ten years now that Bangladesh got test status but in the international arena its performances have turned from bad to worse. Who is responsible for that? Certainly not the players, but the poor planning and guidance at the top. If the top is rotten, the bottom is also bound to become rotten.