Crisis deepens

Aftab Ahmed (2nd from L) and Shahriar Nafees (2nd from R) are likely to win the race for a recall to the national team when the selectors announce the final squad today for next week's tri-series followed by two Tests against India. Here the two ICL returnees, along with other regular members, sprint during a practice session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.Photo: STAR

The crisis surrounding the National Cricket League (NCL) has deepened as the players turned deaf ears to the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) appeal.
Nobody turned up for reporting despite the board issuing a statement on Tuesday by saying that 'under the current circumstances Bangladesh Cricket Board requests every selected player to report to their respective divisional venues by December 30. However any player not abiding by the instruction will be regarded as a hindrance to the development of Bangladesh cricket."
So, there is a slim chance to see the league starting from tomorrow as per schedule if any dramatic decisions do not come from today's emergency board meeting, which was called to discuss the crisis. But it was learnt that the board is determined to start the league from tomorrow and are going to take a tough stance against the movement.
"Nobody turned up today for reporting despite the board's ultimatum. Only three four players like Mehrab Hossain and Mahbubul Alam expressed their desire to join the camp but most of the players confirmed that they follow the instruction of CWAB (Cricketers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh)," said Ali Hossain, manager of the Dhaka Division team.
"CWAB is a guardian of the players, so there is no other choice than follow their instruction. What's wrong if the board officials sit with the players to solve the problem? There is no other choice than sit with the CWAB officials to put an end to the crisis," said former national skipper and Rajshahi Division player Khaled Mashud.
"I think there is some ego problem but we should think about the greater interest of the game. The players didn't make any illogical demands to the board," he added.
The first-class cricketers asked the board to increase their match fees as well as reinstate the previous format of country's lone first-class cricket and they has also demanded to defer the competition by four/five days.
It was learnt that the board officials tried unofficially to convince the players to join the camp so that the board can take a positive step regarding their demand in the emergency meeting, but the players were reluctant.