No patriotism, just surrendering to money
Friday, 19 September 2008
THE developments concerning six leading Bangladeshi cricketers who had expressed their intention to play in the breakaway Indian Cricket League ICL) and sought retirement from international and domestic cricket on behalf of the country, are frustrating. There were also hints later about eight other top cricketers, all of whom had played in or are at the periphery of the national team, joining the six at the ICL.
In this backdrop, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has decided to ban the concerned cricketers for ten years if they take part in any tournament not having the approval of the International Cricket Board. This decision has followed an earlier request by the BCB to the concerned players to reconsider their decision. The BCB top officials said that the Board did a lot to make them international standard players and now they are not showing minimum level of patriotism. The earlier decision of the concerned Bangladeshi cricketers came as a blow not only to the national team but also to the game of cricket in our country and to our aspirations as an emerging cricketing power.
The main reason behind 'decision' of the concerned decision to retire from international and domestic cricket-events on behalf of Bangladesh is reportedly 'economic'. The players say from one ICL tournament they would earn an amount of money which they cannot from their whole life in the Bangladesh National cricket team. We understand the frustration of our cricket fraternity. We think the cricket board, cricket circles and the media should consider the whole issue from a proper perspective. The BCB should now sit with the cricketers to understand their problem and to do the needful.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board should make every effort for making playing for our national team and in our domestic leagues, attractive. At the same time, our good players should not opt for alternatives only for their narrow personal consideration.
Ahmed Sobhan
Dhanmandi R/A
Dhaka
In this backdrop, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has decided to ban the concerned cricketers for ten years if they take part in any tournament not having the approval of the International Cricket Board. This decision has followed an earlier request by the BCB to the concerned players to reconsider their decision. The BCB top officials said that the Board did a lot to make them international standard players and now they are not showing minimum level of patriotism. The earlier decision of the concerned Bangladeshi cricketers came as a blow not only to the national team but also to the game of cricket in our country and to our aspirations as an emerging cricketing power.
The main reason behind 'decision' of the concerned decision to retire from international and domestic cricket-events on behalf of Bangladesh is reportedly 'economic'. The players say from one ICL tournament they would earn an amount of money which they cannot from their whole life in the Bangladesh National cricket team. We understand the frustration of our cricket fraternity. We think the cricket board, cricket circles and the media should consider the whole issue from a proper perspective. The BCB should now sit with the cricketers to understand their problem and to do the needful.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board should make every effort for making playing for our national team and in our domestic leagues, attractive. At the same time, our good players should not opt for alternatives only for their narrow personal consideration.
Ahmed Sobhan
Dhanmandi R/A
Dhaka