SPORTS REPORTER

Hoping to change the fortune in the longest format of the game, Bangladesh cricket team have already entered the year 2022 with yet another challenging tour of New Zealand.

With just a win against Zimbabwe in Tests last year, Bangladesh suffered heavily and went on to lose series against West Indies, Sri Lanka and the latest 2-0 whitewash at home against Pakistan to set foot in the second cycle of World Test Championship (WTC) today.

Questions have been asked of the Tigers’ approach and the need to upgrade the mentality in cricket’s most elite format. Long-term planning has become the need of the hour to revive Bangladesh cricket.

However, Bangladesh Test skipper Mominul Haque is reluctant to ponder on the distant future and is still content with the slow and steady approach.

“At the moment, we aren’t thinking of what we will do in Test cricket in 2022. We’re going to play most of our series this year in tough conditions. So, rather than thinking of the future, we would like to go slow and think series by series,” said Mominul ahead of the first of the two-match Test series in New Zealand.

Interestingly, Mominul’s reluctance to think on a broader canvas raises the question, will the scenario transform overnight without long-term planning?

Jalal Yunus, the new chairman of the BCB’s cricket operations committee, expressed his views regarding the situation to The Daily Star.

“Look, what Mominul said is from a player’s point of view as he is trying to take pressure off of his team and keep the environment relaxed. To be honest, it’s the management’s duty to think about long-term planning.

“I have some long-term plans in store but it will take time. It’s important not to hurry rather proceed with a gradual process. I’m willing to have an effective national coaching staff. There is also a plan to prepare the second eleven, to facilitate the national team’s pipeline, and also arrange tours in higher-ranked countries outside the national team, be it with the A-team or any other development program.”

While Jalal pointed out his aspiration regarding the national team, veteran coach Sarwar Imran recommends digging deep at the root level to yield actual benefit of a long-term plan.

“Reforming lower-tier cricket is vital. Since I am involved with a third-division team this season, I can say that things did change a lot. We play matches on turf pitches in a good environment and the umpiring has also been good, so far. But this needs to continue and the board should make sure they improve the quality of cricket by bringing competitiveness.

“It’s crucial to have the regional cricket association produce players from their region and have a core group of players. Also important, to minimise the gap in standard between first-class cricket and international cricket. I’d love to see our first-class cricket on TV and this can also help to boost the four-day cricket and make it popular,” stated Imran.