…What the Hell is Happening? …

Bangladesh digested yet another ignominious White Wash. They lost tests at St Vincent and St Lucia back to back almost in the same fashion. Defeat by 10 wickets and 296 runs in two tests only reflect the sad and poor state of cricket in Bangladesh. Earlier they were white washed in ODI series as well. Many can term it Brown wash or even black wash. Our Friend Farhad Tito can tell his Jamaican friend that “West Indies may not be the best team in the world but Bangladesh is definitely the worst team playing the test.”  We Bangladeshi cricket lovers are shocked, awed and embarrassed the way the team has played for a while now. We are frustrated the way the team is managed, the cricket affairs are administered by spineless, shameless BCB. There is no accountability, no responsibility. It is free for all. A bunch of fools are in a mission for destroying all the gains of Bangladesh Cricket.

They call it “Domino Effect”In recent times in all formats of Bangladesh cricket the batsmen hardly have shown any character or commitment. Whether they were batting at four or forty, whether they were playing on a flat wicket or difficult surface they panic and get back to dressing room in a procession whenever one wicket goes down. The innings Bangladesh just played is no different. Tamim and Mominul were batting so well .A sudden rush of blood made Tamim unnecessarily sweep one from Benn throwing away his wicket and three others immediately followed. From a seemingly comfortable position crisis came like landslide.Bangladesh lost 8 wickets for 42 runs .

Bangladesh Cricket team for over the last ten  months are losing matches in all formats of international cricket .It does not matter whether the opponent is Afghanistan or Australia, West Indies or Sri Lanka. It does not matter whether it is ODI, T20 or tests.Bangladesh is losing matches and frustrating its fans and admirers .Any team, any country in international competitive game can have a period of uncertainty, any particular player can run through a period of poor form. There is always a saying,”Form is Temporary but class is permanent.” In the wake of the present abysmal performance of Bangladesh Cricket can we say that all of our players are passing through a lean patch almost concurrently? How long this can be used as an excuse. Other day smart sports journalist Farhad Tito wrote in his Facebook,” Bangladesh Cricket is the most consistent loser. They bat the same way whether chasing a target of 200 0r 400. They are now the most predictable team in a game which is known as glorious uncertainty”. We are sure that great admirer of Bangladesh cricket wrote it out of his frustrations.

The same group of cricketers in not too distant past white washed strong New Zealand team in ODI, beat full strength India and Sri Lanka, competed admirably against Pakistan, beat West

Indies in ODI series .What might have happened to them? Why same players making the same mistake over and over again? Why the Bangladesh teams maturing process has suddenly stuck in quick sands of uncertainty?

In the last few months recently constructed civil structures of Sylhet Cricket Stadium and Cox’s Bazar stadium collapsed. We are not sure what is the immediate reaction of PM Hasina when she heard about the collapse of the roof of a stadium named after late Sheikh Kamal? Who are the persons responsible for ensuring the quality of works of the cricket related infrastructures? Did not want Sylhet Cricket stadium developed as an iconic international cricket stadium?

This writer saw Bangladesh cricket growing like grass after the liberation. We had opportunity see and feel the struggle of early birds of Bangladesh cricket. We witnessed the commitment, dedication and efforts of cultured cricket community for setting the root of cricket in Bangladesh. We have also followed the graduation of Bangladesh cricket from layer to layer, step by step. For us it is extremely painful to observe the struggle of the present team.

Over the last couple of months we have exchanged views on Bangladesh cricket with Roquibul Hasan, Gazi Ashraf Lipu, Nazmoon Noor Robin, Amiul Islam Bulbul, and Atahar Ali Khan. This writer also talked on social media with Sports Journalists Farhad Tito and Nazmul Amin Kiron. All are equally concerned. All want something to happen.

Bangladesh cricket is not being properly administered by BCB. It is a sad commentary that five ex cricket captains – Habibul Bashar, Akram Khan, Minhazul Abedin, Farukh Ahmed, Khaled Mahmud Sujon being involved in the thick of everything could not deliver much for our cricket. Wonder whether they give good constructive suggestions? Are they not being heard? All these players have seen good days and bad days of Bangladesh cricket. Are they giving proper mentoring to the players in crisis time? Are they working in a co-ordinated manner? Are they making good perspective planning?  How can international players continue to commit same mistakes over and over again? What explanation BCB President can give to the nation? We are aware that Mahabub Anam is a very influential cricket official in BCB .What contribution he has made and is making to Bangladesh cricket?

Is BCB is meant for arranging international cricket only? What role it is playing in reviving the domestic format of the game? Why not cricket is played in districts? What happened to school cricket? What happened to inter university cricket? Why not age group cricket given emphasis? Who is monitoring cricket of development squad? What the hell BCB Director Planning and Coaching and Direct Cricket Operation are doing? We know that there are some sensible persons like Bobby and Jalal Yunus are there. Are they not being heard?

Many persons knowing about inside situation complain of an evil nexus in and around Bangladesh cricket who are fortune seekers. They hardly care what happens to domestic

cricket. They do not care about performance of the team. They are self-styled cricket masters. They are busy masturbating their individual ego .They are in a mission to squeeze all benefits out of cricket. For them arranging international tournaments, flawed and failed BPL type cricket keeps the hungry sharks happy. They can care less for Bangladesh Cricket and Cricketers. We are sorry to say the cricketers involved in BCB are either part of it or have little or no say. Our cricket is sinking and reaching the bottom.

International cricket coaches with reputation cannot adjust with unhealthy environment and gets frustrated. A very successful team of Australian coaching team very recently refused to continue and complete their tenure. There should have been an enquiry into the reasons why they left. Instead BCB went for a non-transparent hunt for a head coach. A very ordinary Sri Lankan Chandika Haturasinghe whom his own country will never even think of giving any assignment to coach their team was selected to Mentor and Coach Bangladesh team in crisis. Immediately after his assignment he created controversy through locking into tussle with star Bangladesh all -rounder Sakibul Hasan. Controversial BCB officails did not waste time in penalizing Sakib without realizing how Sakib’s absence can hurt the struggling Bangladesh in West Indies tour. No sensible person would argue about Sakib antics. But there could be actions other than suspending him for longer terms. Now after the disastrous West Indies tour in any authentic post mortem it will evidence that only Sakib’s presence could make lot of difference to team’s performance .Bangladesh team management made several crucial mistakes in playing eleven selections. They may have influenced several flawed decisions of the captain. Bangladesh could not even play to their potential. One Sakib could make a huge difference.

Many well-wishers of Bangladesh cricket , ex National players suggested making Aminul Islam Bulbul , the talented Bangladeshi national player who scored a brilliant century in the first test that Bangladesh played against full strength India made head coach . He is so admirably functioning as ACC development officers in ICC associate countries in Asia. He has Coaching Certificate from Australia. At this hour of crisis who could be better mentor than Bubul for Mushfique, Sakib , Mashrafee and co? But what we gathered some ex cricketers involved in BCB were not interested .They went for a very ordinary Sri Lankan who has only hastened the decline. Some of my ex cricketer friends citing the sad experience of our another ex-cricketer friend Manzu (Expired BCB CEO) suggested that Bulbul may not fit well in the present Nexus of BCB .Present BCB bosses want “His Masters Voice” there .

We know Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is an ardent Cricket lover. She is a true Bangladeshi. It is time she must ask explanation .She must ask BCB to give an account of what is going wrong with Bangladesh Cricket? She must set her foots down and save cricket from demise .