Many would argue that given the domestic cricket formats, standards of local cricket, quality of BCB and other cricket administration Bangladesh cricket perhaps achieved the maximum in international cricket.
Five top quality international cricketers Mashrafe, Shakib, Mushfiq, Tamim and Mahmudullah appearing almost at the same time and maturing together have mostly contributed to Bangladesh being categorized as a potent force in ODI format of the game. They proved competitive in bilateral and international level and in some tournaments poised to win the trophy. Conspicuously, in Test cricket and T20 the successes were very few and far between. Now that at least two if not three of the top five almost reaching the fag end of their career and no quality players have matured to step into their shoes Bangladesh cricket may need to ride through rough waters over the past three to four years.
Mashrafe’s fairy tale career is all but over. His bruised and battered legs can no longer withstand the challenges of international cricket. We are not also sure how long or whether Tamim and Mahmudullah would recover their prolific forms. Shakib and Mushfiq possibly have another 4-5 years quality cricket left in them. But if Mashrafe, Tamim and Mahmudullah are not available beyond 2020 Shakib and Mushfiq will have to deal with fringe players and young maturing talents.
Bangladesh does not possess the depth and diversity of quality young players. Neither the domestic cricket acts as ideal breeding ground for new talents. The works of new coach for preparing a fresh brigade for the challenges of 2023 ICC World Cup cricket in long term, T20 World Cup 2020 and ongoing ICC World Test Championship in the short time will be extremely challenging.
Domestic Cricket Needs Complete Overhauling
In Bangladesh the domestic cricket is very poorly structured. These are played on poor surface with little care taken. National players do not participate in most cases apart from BPL T20 which again is mostly dominated by foreign recruits. The performance of players playing consistently well in NCL, BCL are not given importance at all.
Bangladesh neglects longer version domestic cricket under prepared wickets are considered graveyard of pace bowlers and starts turning almost from the first session of day one. In such situation in some Tests played at home Bangladesh manage to spin out opposition. But Bangladesh looks pretty ordinary when they travel abroad. Bangladesh bowlers can not take wickets and are hammered all over the park.
Bangladesh wickets and conditions are not at al suitable for fast/pace bowlers or wrist spinners who win matches on sporting wickets. At the same time playing on low slow turning tracks Bangladesh batsmen can not adjust with fast bouncing wickets on tour. Bangladesh needs complete overhauling of domestic cricket format. At least in 5 venues of 5 major divisions Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet, Khulna and Rajshahi there must be some sporting wickets (green top) prepared and maintained round the year by professional grounds men. All local inter regional and first class matches must be played there.
So we need much greater attention to domestic longer version (four days cricket) played a district, divisional and zonal level. In every district there must be at least one stadium with sporting wicket, gymnasium with modern equipment, trained professional coaches. District cricket league must be played on regular basis. BCB Director Cricket Operation must be held responsible for domestic cricket development. If necessary a separate directorate in BCB should look after international matches. The matches must be played on right surfaces and qualified umpires must supervise the matches. Divisional cricket organization must be coordinating the domestic cricket matches in the districts under their control. Then divisions must be represented in first class cricket tournament on home and away basis.
How Players Can Grow?
It must not have missed anyone’s attention that whatever talent Mustafiz, Taskin and Rubel may be having they still could not achieve the control and consistency of Mashrafe. We all know how Mashrafe broke into big time cricket and what role Andy Roberts played in his early nursing. We are also aware how Taskin and Mustafiz emerged. BCB is responsible in a great way in the present state of Mustafiz and Taskin. If they were taken better care by this time they could be ready for stepping into the shoes of Mashrafe? The roles of head coach and bowling coach were mentoring them. On Bangladesh wicket pacers would get injured frequently bending their backs for generating pace. I will blame BCB management for not maturing Taskin and Mustafiz to desired level by now.
Why Bangladesh can not find an ideal replacement or even a consistent partner of Tamim Iqbal? So many players have come and gone. BCB management could not keep faith on any. What happened to Imrul Kayes and Anamul Haque? Why Shahriar Nafees could not continue in longer version as opener? Why Jahurul Islam Omi was not given longer run when he was delivering? Lot of time and energy have been spent of Soumya Sarkar and Liton K Das. Both have talents of different dimensions. But none are fit for all versions. Both of them have technical limitations. Batting coach have to mentor them.
What About Top and Middle Order Batting?
CWC 2019 has nakedly exposed the frailty of Bangladesh batting. Shakib was exceptional and Mushfiq played his role well. None other looked like international class. Why Mominul could not grow as ideal number three batsman in all formats? Shakib despite of all his success at number three is not a batsman for top order. Number five is his ideal position. Mahmudullah was a great success in CWC2015 at number three. Playing him down the order in finisher's role has wasted his talent. He was not the same at CWC 2019. Perhaps he was not 100% as well. Many players perform consistently well in domestic cricket in the middle order. But a vested quarter in BCB ensure that successful players can not make break through into national team. Selection process is heavily dictated from the top.
Why Bangladesh Can't Find Match Winning Wrist Spinners?
Other than Bangladesh almost all the top 10 teams in ICC have world class wrist spinners. Even Nepal possess one. Bangladesh never made sincere efforts. Quality wrist spinners win matches in all versions. When BCB had the last talent hunt for wrist spinners? Now that World Class left arm spinner Daniel Vettori will be available for a short time he must not be used for tuning the spinners in national team only. There must be clinic run for sourcing quality spinners. Bangladesh must go all out for finding quality wrist spinner. Off course wickets must have bounce to assist them. If Bangladesh wants winning matches abroad on pacey bouncy wickets quality wrist spinner along with pace bowlers are the key.
Need Professional Management in BCB?
This writer has closely monitored development of Bangladesh cricket since 1972, have seen struggle of early days, crawling time, various stages of successes and failures. Some recent success in different format was mainly orchestrated by some quality senior players playing cricket for over a decade together. But overall development is poor .No assessment or post mortem is not even made after any major tournament. Team management does not own responsibility. There is hardly any effective plan for creating quality pipeline of players. A team, development squad, age group teams have some talents but there is no protocol to grow them. People are mad after cash cow BPL. But did BPL create talents for Bangladesh as IPL does for India? Who gains most from BPL? Why Bangladesh is so poor in T20?
The present composition of BCB can not elevate Bangladesh cricket from the present state. They have weird vision, very biased attitude and self seeking mentality. Cricket has huge popularity amongst masses. If marketed properly and redeveloped from grass root with comprehensive plan engaging all stake holders (top players of the past, local coaches, genuine organizers) Bangladesh in 3-5 can grow competent among the top 5 cricket playing countries. For that BCB must be pruned of the self seekers and opportunists. Otherwise the best coaches or coaching staff can do little. Bangladesh will win one or two matches after a while. When present senior players would exit cricket may go back to square one we are afraid.
BDST: 1502 HRS, AUG 21, 2019
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