Our ICL warriors
In a resounding post editorial 'Rebel Warriors' on 19 September, Mr. Zafar Sobhan uttered the voice of all sensible Bangladeshis which should be read word by word several times by our cricket governors and their wailing sycophants. Mr. Sobhan categorically explains some solid points: firstly, our cricketers did not do any crime comparable a wee bit to any egregious practice like match-fixing; secondly, ICLunlike the IPLhas truly honoured our cricketers by creating a wide opportunity for them to compete as a 'Bangladeshi' team with international teams; and finally, playing or not-playing for the board has nothing to do with the issue of patriotism. Remember, ICL is at best 'unrecognised', not 'banned', by ICC. The reason is also known: ICC survives on BCCI's wealth. Come on, money talks! Whatever our BCB has done out of BCCI appeasement is laughablegiven that BCCI hasn't allowed a single Test series against Bangladesh in their soil in the last three years.
Amid all emotionally charged-up hullabaloos from some quarters, let me ask all a simple question: when hundreds of thousands of educated people of our country, that include university professors, brilliant graduates, corporate executives et al, become immigrants to the lands of fair-skinned peopleeven at the risk of doing jobs disproportionate to their standards, we do not question their patriotism, do we? And these cricketerswho have chosen their profession in cricket and haven't migrated to India anywayinstantly become 'unpatriotic rebels' only for going to play cricket in a professional tournament! I had personally talked with Habibul Bashar Sumon today and found how tremendously hurt he and others are by this unjust insensitivity of some quarters.
Let me be further straight. Is it a crime for the cricketers to think of future financial security given the woeful plight our sportsmen have to suffer as soon as they quit sports? Who cares to look after them at that time? Federations? Boards? Government? NGOs? None. Most of them, until they have otherwise socio-economic footing, have to live neglected traumatic livesonly to become news items on TV channels and newspapers at some later point of time.
Therefore, our cricketers have done a brave thing by joining ICL. I am sure, millions of Bangladeshi fans are eagerly waiting for Dhaka Warriors to fight against other international sides. Hopefully, our cricket bosses would feel the pride as well. The latest news is, Sri Lankan board has lifted its domestic ban on ICL players. No comments required indeed.
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