Tomorrow never dies for BCB
It took almost a year for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president, Nazmul Hassan Papon, to come up with the announcement: “Our main focus is on the next World Cup, not this one. You can't change everything overnight. We are planning long-term and trying to prepare a squad for the next World Cup.”
Who will ring the bell?
When the International Cricket Council (ICC) unanimously gave Bangladesh full membership and made the country the tenth Test-playing nation in June 2000, the immediate reaction from then Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Saber Hossain Chowdhury was that it would inspire Bangladesh's cricketers to strive harder towards their goals.
A curious case of Tigers’ Gros Islet chronicles
Bangladesh are all set to play their second and final Test of the two-match series against West Indies at Gros Islet in Saint Lucia, starting from Friday.
‘I don’t think we understand the real value of a coach’
Proper grooming is crucial because all basic traits are absorbed during that budding phase, cricket experts remind, especially after national players miserably fail in terms of decision-making on the field. Bangladesh’s poor first-class cricket structure has often been identified as the main culprit behind the country’s struggles in five-day matches since its elevation to Test cricket in 2000.
‘The answer is there to see’
There was not any significant difference between hosts Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in terms of international experience as the two subcontinental rivals locked horns in a two-match Test series within the past two weeks.
Bangladesh deserve 'full marks', says Bashar
Former Bangladesh captain turned national selector Habibul Bashar did not hesitate to give Bangladesh team ‘full marks’ for their efforts under trying conditions in the Chattogram Test against Sri Lanka that ended in a draw on Thursday.
Fahim’s ‘different Mushfiqur’ emerges
“I firmly believe, you will see a different Mushfiqur [Rahim] in this series and he will return amongst runs with big scores.” It was on the opening day’s play of the Chattogram Test when the ‘Guru’ of Bangladesh batting stalwarts -- Nazmul Abedeen Fahim -- made the prophecy about one of his favourite students, with whom he had a special session before the start of the series.
Can Shanto realise value of the No. 3?
How good is Najmul Hossain Shanto as the number three batter, a position that consistently demands the widest range of skills?
A most mindless ‘mindset’
Right now, the ubiquitous buzzword in our cricket circuit is ‘mindset’. It seems all paths lead to that particular word in discussions about the problems surrounding the Bangladesh men’s national cricket team.
Fizz not keen on Test return?
Left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman said that Bangladesh now have a very good pace bowling unit for which the team management can easily make a separate work plan for three formats.
‘I believe we can dream all the way’
The Daily Star (DS): Your return to Test cricket after almost a year. Please share the experience with us.
‘Who are these girls playing cricket like boys?’
What kind of girls are they, playing cricket like boys? This was the kind of question that reverberated 40 years back in a society that typically had condemned the unconventional. Even to this day, however, this kind of disdainful and condescending mentality rears its head in society despite strides made by women in various fields.
A unique precedent
Bangladesh cricket set a unique example in regards to dealing with a player’s mental health. When a player wants to skip an international commitment citing a mental health issue, it deserves utmost attention and the highest levels of sensitivity.
‘The base of the pyramid is gradually decaying’
There are still many who got nostalgic when they reminisce about those days of the country’s premier 50-over competition, which was characterised by excitement, drama and suspense. To them, there was no shortage of stories to tell.
A pressing need for long-term solution
Will the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Shakib Al Hasan be able to reach a respectable long-term solution to the ongoing chaos?
‘The situation is not normal’
What comes next? Will Shakib Al Hasan ultimately tour South Africa or will he only be available for the Test series? Does the team management have any failsafe mechanism in place if the premier all-rounder ultimately sticks to skipping the series?
No captaincy, please!
Who would not love to captain his side? It is something that a lot of players dream of. We often hear players say, “It’s a dream come true to captain the side.”
17 years after a spark, age-old problems still persist
Bangladesh have their backs against the wall following a poor display in the shortest format of the game and they will be desperate to gain something positive from the two-match
Can new-look Bangladesh make a mark?
Any comparison of the two teams’ current form and squad depth ahead of the first of the three-match T20I series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium would lead to the conclusion that Pakistan are well ahead of the hosts.
More empty gestures?
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has taken some initiatives in the aftermath of the national team’s abysmal performance in the T20 World Cup, where the Tigers’ nightmare started with a defeat against Scotland in the first round before ending with defeats in all five Super 12 matches.
‘Not a good sign’ indeed
“This is not a good sign.” We want to believe incumbent Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan said these words out of the frustration that stemmed from the fact that ‘no one is willing to step up to challenge him for the presidency’.
Can youngsters capitalise on momentum?
“Maturity doesn’t mean age; it means sensitivity, manners and how you react.”
Tigers’ success -- to sustain or not, that is the question
Bangladesh cricket team completed a highly fruitful tour by scooping all three trophies against hosts Zimbabwe. The scenario could not have been any better for a team as they return home with such tremendous success on the backdrop of a series of failures.
Shakib the culprit, but BCB the enabler
There is an age-old cricket batting tip: play according to the merit of the ball. This does not only apply to batting; the statement stands true for all
I’m trying my own thing
The Daily Star (DS): You must have been worried over the process of return when the IPL got suspended?
Six years of potential
Liton Das has been around in national colours for almost six years now, but everybody is still hoping that the 26-year old batsman grabs his chances as best as he can.
Hom another beneficiary of selectors’ positive mindset!
Never failing to excavate positives from the deepest of holes following disastrous performances is probably the only persistent thing about Bangladesh’s cricket. So, walking on the same line as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), let’s begin by finding some positives from the inclusion of Shuvagata Hom in the preliminary 21-member Test squad for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour.
Tigers heading to Napier for 31-0?
The Tigers sit at 30-0 after a crushing 66-run New Zealand win in the first of the three-match T20I series at the Seddon Park in Hamilton yesterday. It was the Tigers’ 30th international match across all formats against the Black Caps in their backyard and the outcome was as similar as it was in the other all games.
Can Tigers capture the essence of a champion?
Around the time that the Tigers reached Wellington yesterday -- again aiming to clinch their first-ever win against New Zealand in their backyard when they play the last ODI of the three-match series on Friday -- Shakib Al Hasan was getting back to business and preparing himself for the upcoming Indian Premier League at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur after returning home from the United States on Monday night.
Close enough not good enough for Bashar
“Catches win matches” is one of the oldest adages in cricket. There are several occasions when catches have won matches and dropped catches have cost matches.
Nothing new, never dull
There is never a dull moment in Bangladesh cricket and one does not always have to wait for sporadic on-field successes for excitement.
The pitfalls between beauty and duty
The tragic demise of a young cricketer because he could not quite crack it at the highest level brought to mind the forays of an all-time great -- former Australia skipper Steve Waugh’s journey earlier this year through India with a camera to rediscover the joys of cricket, the love that keeps an entire population agog.
A tough call and an uncertain future
The postponement of the tour of Sri Lanka is a big blow for Bangladesh cricket in terms of returning to international cricket, if not a return to any sort of competitive cricket amid the prolonged coronavirus-induced suspension.
No point shying away from reality
“I believe my product (football) will be good in future,” legendary footballer Kazi Salahuddin commented during an exclusive interview with The Daily Star two months after he was elected for his first term as president of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) in 2008. He added he was treating the high expectations like an extra challenge rather than a burden.
‘Only proper activities can reduce anxiety’
“The tough part for anyone is changing lifelong habits, but you can never underestimate the human mind’s ability to adapt to any crisis or any changing situation, which has been proven time and again throughout human history.”
Cavalier attitude the biggest hindrance
There are a lot of risks and fears as the coronavirus situation in the country is not improving much. Still, life is going on and people from different walks of life are trying to find ways to survive in the new normal.
A return both empty and fulfilling
The great Eduardo Galeano, in his masterpiece ‘Football in Sun and Shadow’, wrote that “playing without their fans (club fans) is like dancing without music”.
Bashar picks his best memories
It could be said that the ‘fearless’ version of the Tigers first appeared when Habibul Bashar led Bangladesh to a five-wicket win over India at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad in the 2007 World Cup.
How much will Covid-19 impact BCB’s coffers?
Like most other sports, all on-field activities in cricket have been suspended the world over due to the coronavirus pandemic.
There must be stories to tell
“Why is only Test cricket being remembered?” The grandson suddenly asked this question of his grandfather while he was minutely reading every line of a report in the newspaper where a cricket legend has recalled a great Test knock from another modern-day great in order to encourage people and remind them of the need to maintain discipline in the fight against Covid-19.
Empowering, not interfering the way forward
The Young Tigers’ World Cup triumph, the guarded approach from the Bangladesh Cricket Board following that historic result and, most importantly, the players’ willingness to keep their feet on the ground -- all of these factors have created a positive vibe in the country’s cricket.
Great triumph, but what next?
Nobody wants to hear something out of tune in times of joyful celebration. The Akbar Ali-led Bangladesh Under-19 team has captivated the cricket-mad nation with a World Cup triumph in South Africa.
World champions
No more agony, no more heartbreak against India. The Young Tigers created arguably the most seminal moment in its cricketing history at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom yesterday, ending their wait for a major global trophy.
Grassroots slipping through the cracks
Who cares about the Third Division Cricket League these days, when fans, officials and media are mostly engrossed in international cricket? But this season’s domestic lower-tier competition has still gotten plenty of attention enough attention. But, alas, the spotlight has been shone for all the wrong reasons.
Time to choose a long-term captain
The current problem in Bangladesh cricket is a multifaceted one. The national team’s struggle to reach a desired international level especially in Test cricket, a lack of foresight in planning towards future targets, alleged corruption in lower-tier cricket are just a few of the problems.
Sad, shocked but mostly puzzled
“I cannot imagine what I am dealing with. I can only say that it’s not normal.”
Look at the real fault lines
The grand corporate boardrooms, lush-green cricket fields and financial affluence does not necessarily guarantee good governance in cricket. However, it is believed that only strong governance can ensure long-term benefit in the modern era.
Adopting the Mullah’s wisdom
We all know about the witty, wise and philosophical Mullah Nasruddin, a Persian character who appears in thousands of humorous stories. A well-known tale relates how judge Nasruddin was listening to a case and, after hearing the plaintiff’s deposition, remarked,
July 31, 2019
‘Groundsmen ruined the match for us’
Afghanistan A alleged that an ‘unprofessional’ approach by the groundsmen in the fourth one-dayer denied them a series victory against Bangladesh A. The fourth game of the five-match series was abandoned due to rain at BKSP last Saturday, and the 62-run
July 30, 2019
Future, not past the yardstick for selectors
How can we measure the performance of the selectors? There are no standard indicators by which we can identify the success or failure of a selection committee. That is why the selectors always try to remind us that they are actually performing a thankless job as
July 26, 2019
Fallacy of BCB’s hyperactivity
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is probably the most hyperactive cricket authority as it wasted no time to take action following its team’s exit from the ICC World Cup.
June 4, 2019
A picture worth waiting for
A flashback: On February 18, 2015, the Bangladesh team led by Mashrafe Bin Mortaza had paraded around the Manuka Oval applauding the crowd in Canberra after Mushfiqur Rahim had taken the bails off the last Afghanistan wicket. A clinical performance from the Tigers
May 30, 2019
The most exciting World Cup!
With a swing of the willow and a sweet strike of the cherry, cricket’s greatest event on the planet, the ICC Cricket World Cup, is all set to get underway today at its birthplace -- the United Kingdom. We, the 160 million people of Bangladesh, are not going to be mere spectators of the game like the FIFA World Cup
May 1, 2019
Best of luck Mash, amid all the chaos
Bangladesh cricket has suddenly been caught in a mild web of controversies.
April 19, 2019
Let's not overcook the Tigers
The much-anticipated Bangladesh squad for the ICC World Cup was announced, putting an to end all the speculation about the
January 11, 2019
Structures are soulless without utilisation
"Zero tolerance for corruption and irregularities." That was the policy that newly appointed State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russel vowed to uphold on Tuesday, his first day as chairman of the National Sports Council (NSC).
November 12, 2018
Not out of the blue
It is no surprise that Mashrafe Bin Mortaza's political journey has been dominating discussions in the country's sports fraternity. All were keen to know whether the Bangladesh ODI captain reached Awami League's Dhanmondi office on Sunday to collect the nomination papers.
October 17, 2018
'Shakib in WC is top priority'
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan has been under fire recently because of the perception that it was the BCB boss who forced star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan to play in the Asia Cup despite the player saying that he would need surgery on an injured left little finger.
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