…Cricket…How Can Bangladesh Improve?…

 

November 2014 will see fourteenth year of Bangladesh is test arena of cricket. Bangladesh entered into big league in November 2000. In 14 years since the start Bangladesh played 85 tests losing 70 and winning only 4 and drawing the rest. Recently Bangladesh got whitewashed against not too strong West Indies in West Indies.

The celebrated West Indian Cricket commentator Tony Cozier has written a wonderful analysis of the recently concluded one sided cricket contest between West Indies and Bangladesh. Judging the relative strength of two sides and lack of professional development of cricket in both countries his analysis if taken due notice can benefit cricket of both countries. Let us start quoting him.

Quote

It is simple to regard West Indies’ thrashing of Bangladesh over the past month as nothing more than an embarrassing mismatch. Given the victories in the three ODIs and those by ten wickets and 296 runs in the Tests, that was, indeed, what it was.

A contest between teams, along with Zimbabwe, at the bottom of the ICC’s rankings would appear to have only a negative bearing on the overall state of Test cricket. The sprinkling of spectators, barely visible, or audible, in the stands usually filled for the abbreviated formats, offered further evidence of the dwindling interest in the traditional game.

The situation should have been of interest to the ICC. The governing body repeatedly trumpets its commitment to the primacy of Test cricket above its populist limited-overs offshoots; instead, it grudgingly offers inadequate opportunities to its newest, most vulnerable members to improve by experience.

It has mulled over a two-tier promotion and relegation arrangement with six teams in each division, except that the three financial powerhouses, Australia, England and India, would be untouchable.

Zimbabwe and Bangladesh can only remain stationary once they continue to depend on series of two Tests each. “

Unquote

Tony has rightly blamed ICC for its lack of support and proper monitoring of cricket development of lesser fortunate bottom of the ICC ranked teams Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. In 14 years since Bangladesh achieved test status India has never hosted Bangladesh in test series, Australia only invited them once for two tests in Darwin and Cairns. If teams like Bangladesh does not get opportunity a bit more frequently to play against top ranked teams how can they improve? How many tests Zimbabwe and Bangladesh play each year? What Bangladesh gains from organizing ODI world cup and T20 World Cup? What is the condition of domestic cricket format? Is BCB a true representative body? Is BCB doing enough for development of cricket at grass root? What is the status of age group cricket in Bangladesh?

There was a time when ICC used to talk about globalization of cricket. That was also a weird concept. Cricket is such a game which cannot be globalized. But at the same time ICC must care more for the development of cricket in its full member and associate member countries. Instead under evil influence of cricket merchants and three musketeers India, England and Australia ICC is trying to squeeze cricket further.

Tony in his write up mentioned about icon West Indian Batsman Gordon Greenidge who coached Bangladesh team when it own ICC Trophy in Malaysia in 1997. Gordon was also there when Bangladesh beat Pakistan in ICC World Cup in 1999. He rightly pointed out at that time that judging from the overall standard of cricket and cricket format Bangladesh was at least 10 years behind playing at test level. BCB at that time did not like his statement and did not bother to embarrass the great West Indian through sacking him. Bangladesh managed to get ICC full membership. In year 2000. In 14 years since then Bangladesh have floundered ever since, beaten in 70 of their 85 Tests, victorious in just four (two over Zimbabwe, two over the strike-weakened West Indies in 2009. Most of the losses were by innings defeat and matches completed in three days. Looking back in retrospect can anyone say that Gordon Greenside made a wrong statement?

In year 2000 Bangladesh may not have enough money, may not have enough facilities. But now they cannot have that complaint. BCB is a very rich body. It has several good stadiums, great playing and practicing facilities, many sponsors. But what is missing is competent and efficient cricket management, good farsighted planners and implementers. The country which could produce quality players like Mohammad Ashraful, Mohammad Rafique, Mashrafee bin Murtaza Tamim Iqbal, Sakibul Hasan and Mushfique could very well play with much more success if cricket was better administered.

Over the last several years proper management of school cricket, college cricket are missing. Many of the players were product of Nirman Scholl Cricket. Why that kind of Scholl Cricket tournament could not proceed? What is the status of cricket in greater districts? We remember in 1970s and 1980s Dhaka University Inter Department Cricket used to be a big draw. Dhaka University had a very strong team in national championship. Chittagong, Mymensingh, Rangpoor, Dinajpoor, Sylhet, Comilla, Faridpoor, Barishal , Rajshahi used to have very good tournaments. Why BCB planning and coaching Director is not taking initiative to revive those? BPL type cricket is acting as a negative catalyst which Bangladesh must abandon as soon as possible.

No one really cares about age group cricket. There is no effective monitoring of development squad. A group of full time businessmen in BCB makes it their happy hunting ground for widening their business interest. What Bangladesh gains from organizing BPL? Why Bangladesh has to follow BCCI and IPL?

Bangladesh players lack longer version match temperament, mental toughness. The team got several good coaches. But most of them had to leave being disgraced. They were not given required authority or support. Why a star player like Mohammad Ashraful not properly nursed and monitored? Is he alone to be blamed for his misfortune? Why Sakib was not handled properly the moment he started misbehaving remember one young player Roquibul Hasan once abandoned the team for maltreatment. I remember once Mashrafee also left team hotel being disgraced. Are not these examples of poor man management of BCB over the years?

True Bangladesh needs more test matches to improve their test temperament. But at this present state of test cricket when hardly people come and see matches in places other than sub-continent which major test playing country will be interested to host Bangladesh?

The only way now to improve seven divisional teams must have different age group competitions. They must play round the year excepting the rainy season. Matches must be played on true surfaces. Bangladesh may also talk with Australia and England to arrange sending their young talents play in the league and tournaments there. Young players can be sent to Cricket academy.

Bangladesh may replicate school cricket format of Sri Lanka. A team of ex Cricket players like Heera,Roquibul, Gazi Ashraf,Badsha, Waheedul Gani, Rofique, Saad, and Khaled Masud can be formed for country wide talent hunting. All these will require proper planning.

The disastrous Caribbean tour has severely dented our cricket reputation. The performance of the team dipped from the late last year. The present directors, selectors and team management have miserably failed to deliver. They do not deserve to hold their post. Some of them should resign if they have self-respect.

Bangladesh may win Gold Cup in Asiad as the other competitors are far below Bangladesh national team level. Let that possible triumph not give false confidence that everything is OK in BCB.

Bangladesh must leave nothing unturned to improve the performance of the team. BCB will say they are doing enough. But they must now realize that their enough is not enough for the team to perform. There must be something wrong somewhere. If the team fail to show visible improvement soon would suggest Bangladesh stay away from playing test cricket for two to three years for restructuring its domestic format.