Observers of the International Cricket Council (ICC) privately expressed their concern over the ma-nagenicnt mechanism of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) recently.
The world cricket's governing body is not at all happy with the way cricket is being managed here by the Board. The local authority was even told what it needed to do before considering itself as an eligible Test candidate, reliable sources said.
Recent course of events in cricket arena exposed BCB s sheer inefficiency in handling domestic matters' and total lack of professionalism in co-ordinating international affairs.
The Board is expected to maintain liaison round the year with international cricket administrators. But. the lack of proficiency, professionalism and dedication of local managers have rather brought this once-disciplined organisation into disrepute, raising doubts and disbelief in the mind of international executives.
Weaknesses of the Board in its present administration was highly evident when a three-member inspection team of the International Cricket Council IlCC) and an international cricket team. Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). arrived in Bangladesh recently.
Ine ICC observers-- former Test players Nasimul Ghani of Pakistan. Andy Pycroft of Zimbabwe and Graham Dowling of New Zealand-- came to assess the latest state of overall cricket here before giving their verdict on Bangladesh's plea for Test status.
Needless to mention, this tour was a very significant one as far as Bangladesh cricket was concerned As these ICC fact-finders were to submit an inspection report upon which ICC. in its Management Committee meeting in Singapore early this month, would finalise Its primary recommendation (or rejection).
Some of these gentlemen even took the trouble of sending as many as six faxes to the BCB asking for an Itinerary of their seven-day tour. As per the normal custom, it Is the host Board which should provide itinerary and do the groundwork beforehand. Much to their utter surprise. none of the Board officials concerned did even bother to reply to any one of those faxes, let alone seeking apologies. Two of their important days went down the drain as the sell-busy BCB officials could finally come up with an itinerary two’days alter their arrival in the capital.
MCC s chief of cricket Tony Dodemaide had had the similar experience. As fax communication proved useless with the BCB. Dodemaide had to come over here to confirm the MCC tour all by himself.
However, these tourists would have found some consolation had they knew that the BCB also does not even bother prepare any work schedule for Its Director of Development.
On completion of their trip. ICC inspectors however expressed their satisfaction over the infrastructure and the playing standard of Bangladesh. Although they assured that they . were going to submit a positive report, but the team seemed pretty upset with the administrative set-up and the operation of the Board.
They were also found particularly unhappy with the way the Board dealt with cricketers during the last couple of months (which was marked by cricketers' boycott). Caring the national cricketers should be the prime objective of the Board, they observed. What worried them more was the inauspicious influence of the clubs over the Board. According to a knowledgeable source, the ICC fact-finders macle some vital suggestions to BCB boss Saber Hossain Chowdhury regarding the needed reformation of the BCB to bring more professionalism and dynamism in Its activities.
The team is reported to have asked Saber to overhaul the Board, keeping fewer but efficient members to run the show. A few standing committees--Management. Marketing. Selection and Development, with the help of a chief executive officer should run the Board, they opined.
Interestingly, the Board did have the suggested set-up previously with Tanjib Ahsan Saad operating as a paid executive secretary. Saad was then performing commendably but decided to quit the Job under the pressure of some vested quarters led by non-cricketers and few opportunists. Presently, two BCB joint secretaries--Mahmud UI Haq and former national footballer Dewan Safiul Arefin. have been managing' all sorts of crucial cricket affairs.
Meanwhile, the ICC • observers also asked the Board to part ways with club cricket. They felt, the club associations should run the club cricket and the Board has got nothing to do with that. Club representation in the Board must have to be stopped for the sake of national interest. They are alleged to have advised the Board only to run cricket at national levels with the help of six regional headquarters. BCB was also asked to bring the national cricketers under pay role, thus not allowing them to play cricket at club levels.
The Board has to fulfil those criteria lo strengthen its claim for Test rank. And one only can hope that the Board will act sensibly and timely on the recommendation of ICC observers.