Split-captaincy decision today?
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is most likely to make a decision on split-captaincy in today's board meeting at its headquarters in Mirpur.
"I think Mushfiqur [Rahim] should give up captaincy in at least one format. Almost everyone believes that he should quit in one format," said BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon while talking to reporters yesterday.
The meeting has been convened mainly to discuss the Tigers' dismal performance on their Caribbean tour where Mushfiqur's men played so poorly that they suffered a 3-0 defeat in the ODI series and 2-0 in the Tests.
There have been questions about Mushfiqur's captaincy even during the good times but the Tigers' disastrous performance and losing so many close matches in 2014, especially the outcome of the West Indies series, made it obvious for the board to make a decision on the split-captaincy.
Mushfiqur, the wicketkeeper-batsman was given the tough job after Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal had been axed as captain and vice-captain respectively following the side's dismal performance on the tour of Zimbabwe in September 2011 as there was no better choice than the man from Bogra in that crisis moment.
Sources close to the board said that they were now in a same position to bring about the changes as everybody was unhappy not only with his role as the captain on the field but also for the gap between him and the selectors and coach Chandika Hathurusingha. There is an opinion that right at the moment it would be better for the team if Mushfiqur is given the reins only in Tests while Mashrafe Bin Mortaza is appointed captain for the shorter formats with Shakib as his deputy. In the long run Shakib can be a good choice for all formats but the board wants to review his attitude in the coming days. At the same time they are of the opinion that if Shakib is given the vice-captaincy, then he can lead the team in absence of an injury-prone Mashrafe.
An insider said that the board was also irked with Mushfiqur's too much leaning towards one particular player and his decision to field first in the second Test in West Indies surprised everybody although the team meeting's decision was to bat first.
"Actually on top of the agenda is our performance in West Indies. There are many reports that have come and discussions will be based on those. Everyone's opinion will be heard. The coach has already submitted a report. We will get one from Akram [Khan]. Naimur [Rahman] also went there. We will take their inputs and look at the future and after that the captaincy issue may also come," said Papon.
The BCB boss also said that they cannot make wholesale changes to the team because of the World Cup as he considers it too risky.
Besides the team's performance and split-captaincy, the board will also discuss about the problem with the team's sponsor Sahara Group, with whom the BCB struck a four-year mega deal in June 2012.
"Basically what I can say is that we have a number of issues with Sahara, but we want them to fulfil their contract," said Papon.
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