VOX POP: Readers speak out on player exodus

I wholeheartedly support the cricketers' decisions. They have every right to earn the best living they can find. If the BCB cannot match the offer of the ICL, then they should go back to the holes they are in with their tails between their legs. Irrespective of whether these guys sign for the ICL or not, the board should in no way try to place barriers to them plying their trade. I think it is a matter of pride that some of our cricketers are worth $200k in the eyes of the ICL authorities. Why doesn't our board grow a spine and stand up to the bully Lalit Modi (who is essentially dictating things to the ICC), and tell him that they will not ban these cricketers ---- how about that?
Instead of attacking our cricketers, we need to go after the inept BCB officials (read Siddons, Lipu and the selectors) who have brought about the total breakdown of morale within the national set-up. As anyone who has worked in any kind of a professional organization knows, when an employee has no job security or satisfaction, it becomes only a matter of time before he/she goes to another company. It is entirely up to the employer to cultivate an environment where an employee feels valued and can produce his best. Has the BCB done that? Let's ask those tough questions first before going after these boys.
- Shahriyar Zahed
I always think there is two sides to every story. From the players perspective, they are definitely going for the money. In fact to be more precise they are going for the money that they can make by working for a few weeks only as opposed to rigorous touring, losing matches after matches, staying away from the family and of course not the same amount of money or even thereabouts. They are trying to look after themselves and their families. They are professional cricketers and they have all rights to do that.
On the other hand, we have our BCB and us - the hopes, dreams and expectations of the general public. It is a well known fact that our pay is not as high as what some of the international boards pay their players. But then you'd have to say - they win more matches, more sponsors, more enthralling matches equals more money for the board which equals better salary for the players.
BCB has provided a very good training facility for our boys, it may not be state-of-the-art BUT the facilities provided are really good. Show me another sport in Bangladesh that gets as much support as cricket does from a financial perspective, corporate sponsors, fringe benefits and exclusive venues in a small country like ours.
I reckon players have to realize that nothing happens over night, it takes time to build a solid and genuine foundation for any event or system. If BCB was telling the truth regarding IPL and ensuring at least 3 players are part of the next tournament. If Bangladesh actually has a chance of being a part of the 20-20 Champions trophy, I really think the "rebel" players should re-think what they are doing. Especially players like Nafees and Aftab.
Yet again, if I may say so, these are "professional" players and they have all rights to look after themselves by looking for a better job and BCB must show them that there are other opportunities available without having to resign from the national team!
- Rafi Mustafa, Sydney, Australia
Congratulation! At last, it's great news for Bangladesh cricket that our cricketers are going to join ICL. Now the question arises, why these cricketers rebel with the BCB.
Firstly, for economic security - they will be highly paid which they could not ignore. Secondly, continuous process to change the squad-so many experiment for a squad makes one in for one match & out for next match. Under these circumstances no one can be consistent and serious with his goal.
Thirdly, the attitude of the Board towards the out of form cricketers- as if these cricketers did not do anything for the betterment of our cricket. This current situation will help to reform some rules & regulation of the board.
If these cricketers want to join ICL, let them.
We should not tie them because they will play as Bangladeshi.
-Bazlur, Dhaka
It seems like a great disaster has hit the cricket fraternity of Bangladesh. Even after some disastrous tours, optimistic supporters like myself were hoping the team would rebound after they get the key players back.
But the recent reassignments of several of the current team players as well as some future prospects has dented that hope.
But can we term their decisions to quit playing for Bangladesh for a large amount of money as wrong?
It is their personal wish and we should respect them. And if certain measures are not taken, we will see more players giving up on their national duties. I think the BCB should not ban them from playing.
Earning money is their right. Why should we pay for the internal problems of a mere cricket board? We should accept them otherwise many players will be tempted to join ICL and vanquish their hopes for playing for the country. Why should we fear BCCI who don't care about the welfare of cricket of our country?
-Jawad, Student, Notre Dame College
Like every other day, I went up to the main door to get the newspaper. As I glanced at the front page, the news report titled 'Rebellion in the Tiger camp' drew my attention. I was literally devastated after I went through the report since I was an avid cricket lover. What more can Bangladesh cricket take?
We are already having a horrid time trying to keep ourselves afloat in the international arena but now further loss of some players with international exposure will only assist to take our cricket down the drain.
Shahrier Nafees, Aftab Ahmed, Habibul Bashar who are among those who submitted their resignation are vital players for the national team and there aren't anybody skilled enough to take their places at the moment. We are yet to know the details for their resignation but I would like to urge the authorities concerned to look for an appropriate and immediate solution and bail Bangladesh cricket out of further crisis.
-S.M Raiaan, Gulshan-1, Dhaka-1212
This is a tough time for Bangladesh cricket. Those who have decided to
retire from all form of cricket, they must have some clue or other behind the scene. Officials have to find out why they took the hard step. Not only money there is something else. If we cannot give back to our promising cricketers then they have nothing better to do rather then taking hard decisions like this. We love our cricketers although they are passing a bad time in the field, we don't want to lose them.
-Nimon, SH Hall, DU, Dhaka
Sad, utterly sad. Most of the deserters are young players who have been groomed for such a long time by the country. The nation and the spectators deserved to get something back.
However, it should also be investigated as to why the "young" players are deserting the national team. Were they ill- treated by the board or was there some other reason apart from the lucrative financial benefit? The question will become even bigger if these players perform well (and consistently) in the ICL, something they could not do while playing for the country.
- Nadim N Rahman

……….BUT WE CARE

The players, like any other normal human being, have all the rights to decide on their own future. For few of them though, in the long run, whether it would be the right decision or not, is another issue altogether. But US$200,000/-, no doubt, would be a fantastic amount for a young Bangladeshi to earn by plying his trade for only six months, that too spread over three years.
Having said all the above, the players should now refrain themselves from getting involved in the blame game and also from making any lame excuses for their decision of joining the ICL; because it is absolutely obvious that the reason behind their decision is nothing else but monetary, pure & simple.
BCB, on the other hand, should quietly swallow the sour pill, if it may be termed as such, and reprimand the involved players by the book and then go about and do a bit of soul searching; because the bottom line is that the biggest loser to come out of all this shenanigans is none other than Bangladesh Cricket itself. The naked truth is that the detrimental effect in our cricket because of the loss of this group of players is going to be much, much more than the ICL could ever inflict on other Test playing nations because the proverbial 'pipeline' that supplies the cricketers is rather narrow in this young country of ours. The reason behind this is nothing else but lack of proper infrastructure and utter negligence in screening genuine talented cricketers from a very early stage and developing their skills in a multifaceted way.
Though, in my opinion, the selection process of the National Cricket Team is quite transparent, the same cannot be claimed in case of other teams of national level starting from the age level teams to the Development squad and even the 'A' Team to some extent. BCB has recently made an effort to improve this situation by selecting a panel of three ex-national players as age group level Selectors. In my opinion, none of these three are experienced enough to be National Selectors and one of them is even supposed to be in the ICL group of players (!?!). So, BCB's effort, or lack of it, in this regard is quite questionable.
Last but not the least, the current crop of BCB Administrators could be well advised to try to leave a good legacy behind rather than putting all their efforts in trying to cement their positions by riding on the 'Councilors Bus' towards the 'Election or joint/mutual panel highway'.
-Wasiq Rafiq, Ex-Cricketer and Ex-Owner President of Sonargaon Cricketers