Starting leagues quickly is the priority: Inam
Even three years ago, when young left-arm spinner Tipu Sultan was practising in Jessore and awaiting an opportunity, he would never have thought that he would be named in the Bangladesh Under-19 squad that will fly to New Zealand on December 26 to take part in the ICC Under-19 World Cup in January.
The left-arm spinner made his Dhaka League debut in 2016 for Kakrail Boys in the second-division league after his coach referred his name to Mahboob Elahi Murad, the official of Kakrail. Sultan grabbed the opportunity with both hands and went on to become the highest wicket-taker in the league, scalping 32 wickets to help his club gain promotion to the first division.
In the next season, the teenager made his maiden first division appearance for Kakrail and had an immediate impact, once again becoming the highest wicket-taker of the tournament with 34 wickets in 16 games. He eventually caught the attention of the age-level selectors with junior selector Ehsanul Haque having high praise for the youngster.
Sultan was the only one change in the Bangladesh U-19 squad that played the Youth Asia Cup in November, as the promising youngster replaced another left-arm spinner Shakhawat Hossain in the World Cup squad.
It might be a dream journey for Sultan but the Dhaka leagues have a legacy of producing and providing platform for cricketers from the grassroots level to later go on to represent the national team.
However, the first, second and third division leagues are yet to get going this season as the clubs are still in the dark regarding the commencement of the 2017-18 season. Normally, the players' transfer for the first division league takes place by August and the tournament starts from late October or early November. The previous season of the first division league ended in January this year.
After its elections last month, the BCB finally formed the standing committees with Kazi Inam Ahmed, who headed the marketing and commercial committee in the previous term, named the new chairman of the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis, replacing Gazi Golam Mortuza.
Since the committee was finally formed the clubs are now optimistic about the start of the league. According to Inam: “The new role of CCDM chairman is a challenging one. Of course, this is a very important position in Bangladesh cricket in terms of managing all the Dhaka leagues, which have been the heart of cricket with the historic rivalry between Abahani and Mohammedan being there for decades. I will have to work really hard.
“Yes, it is true that the leagues are still pending. Since I was given the responsibility only last week and immediately I have had meetings with relevant authorities -- especially directors of grounds, logistics, tournament committee and umpires committee to find out the slots and plan to start them as soon as possible. Our first goal will be to try and start the tournaments as soon as possible and also form a calendar for the future.
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