Bangladesh is playing Cricket in the big league as ICC test playing country since 2000. The game is as popular here now as anywhere in the world. Every youngster now dreams to play for the country now. 160 million is no less a population. The country which dominates cricket in almost all formats now Australia has only 23 million populations. Another small nation New Zealand has far less. In Australia and New Zealand cricket is way behind other popular games. We cannot say cricket does not have enough facilities now. There are plenty of world class venues, indoor facilities. Cricketers are paid very handsomely. But apart from occasional sparks can we say that our cricket has really occupied its place in the world cricket arena?
The answer will be yes and no.In limited over versions we have some achievements. Leading teams recognize Bangladesh now a competitor in ODI. Person with commercial vision Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi can notice cricket development of Bangladesh. But we still remain a minor in test cricket very much in the thought process. Our only aim in test cricket even at home is to play safe, play to avoid defeat. Our cricket think tanks have negative mindset. Over conservative BCB selectors even ignore the potential for a competitive team to challenge the best of the best.
Test cricket is played over five days and fifteen sessions. A team has to play consistently well. A team has to have at least quality bowling attack capable of taking 20 opposition wickets on a normal test playing surface. We do not agree that Bangladesh does not possess that kind of bowlers. Home team has the privilege to prepare wickets to suit home team in bilateral contest. We hope that Bangladesh knows by now what is the strength, which type of wicket suit them?
It is long 15 years we are playing test cricket. BCB has undergone changes several times though unfortunately committed cricket personalities were not always honestly evaluated. It remained a rehabilitation zone of politically biased persons of questionable credibility. Many say cricket is no longer a passion or an organized profession. It is now a money making opportunity of a vested interested group who somehow manage the policy makers and people who matters.
Whatever Bangladesh achieved now is for the committed of some wonderfully gifted players. This particular group of rare cricket breeds could by now take Bangladesh cricket to a greater height if their efforts were backed up by sound BCB administration and accountable organizations.
Take the example of Bangladesh team selection process especially the test team. We know Bangladesh to become competitive in test cricket need match winning bowlers both pace and spin. We cannot expect exceptional Mashrafee to play test. But we have high quality Taskin,very competent Rubel, budding genius Al Amin, Rabiul, Shafiul. Why Bangladesh has to appear in a test match against mighty India with a lone specialist pace bowler Shahid? Why a very talented young top order batsman Shoumya has to give proxy as an informal new ball bowler? If the Fatullah wicket did not have anything for the pacers why India picked three pacers? Are they fools? We have noticed and we are aware that Indian batsmen are not much comfortable against genuine pace bowlers. Why Al Amin was not in the squad? Last year at this time he was a front line pacer. Why one of Taskin or Rubel could not play in the test? With the best spinners of Bangladesh Abdur Razzak and Sohag Gazi out of grace and ace spinning all-rounder out of form with the ball can the spin attack cause any worry for very strong Indian batting? Why Bangladesh could not produce a sporting wicket and appear with three pacers like India? By selecting a batting heavy lean bowling attack we have already announced that we will let India roll us over.
We cannot accept the explanation that head coach Haturasingh tried to give. A professional cricket player if match fit must play test or ODI. With Mashrafee, Taskin and Mustafiz we already have enough pace bowling option in ODI. There was no reason hiding Rubel. What has happened to Nasir? Is he not a much more experienced quality lower middle order batman that Subhagato. His off spin is bread and butter for the Indian batsmen. By persisting with Young Shubhagato and ignoring Nasir BCB is harming both. By letting Soumya bat at lower order his talent is also being wasted.
With a day gone and India firmly in the driver’s seat Bangladesh is almost out of the test .Only novice will dream of Bangladesh getting back in the test when India has all its batsmen at hand and 239 runs on board. We have to wait and see how Bangladesh bats. We can have hopes against hope. But general logic says if the test is not affected further by weather for longer duration say two days Bangladesh may have to digest a humiliating defeat. Will that give good moral and mental makeup during the ODI series?
We noticed some sort of uneasiness in BCB management just before the test. What is cooking there? What was the drama with Manager Khaled Mahmud Sujon? People say he is not Seeing Eye to eye with Director (Cricket Operation) Naimur Rahman and couple of other senior BCB officials. Do not these affect team chemistry?
By preparing a never seen before test wicket (in the opinion of Head Coach and Captain of Bangladesh Test Team) and by selecting a below strength team we have already played to the hands of India. They are too strong a team not to lose the initiative. They will stamp their authority and may start as hot favorites in ODI series as well. Our hopes for staying at eight in ICC ODI ranking may slide and dip if we fail to win any ODI match against India. Will anyone account for that if it happens?
Fifteen years is no less time for even a baby to grow. Bangladesh in test arena could not grow wisdom teeth yet. We wonder when Bangladesh Cricket will mature. Cannot blame the players. Cannot blame the captain. All faults lie with team management, think tank. I sincerely hope our cricketers come to the rescue of the situation once more.
BDST: 0808 HRS, JUN 11, 2015
HB
