CCDM leaves all confused

The ongoing domestic cricket crisis intensified as Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolitan (CCDM) deferred the interclub transfers for the Premier Division League for another three weeks apparently under pressure from the Mahanagari Cricket Club Samity (MCCS).

Meanwhile, in another development, UNB reported that BCB President Saber Hossain Chowdhury has instructed the board to lift its ban on seven cricketers.The players concerned are now eligible to enter the transfer market.

Saber informed the news agency that the decision was taken following an appeal from the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) to State Minister for youth and Sports Obaidul Quader.

However, Saber's declaration came before the CCDM acted.

With less than 24 hours to go before the transfers were scheduled to begin, the CCDM in an emergency meeting shifted it to February 5. The CCDM also decided that the Premier Division would commence from February 17.

"The clubs want to know first what action is being taken by the board against those seven players. We have to honour the interests of the clubs because they are the ones who makes the league function. If they don't want to hold the transfers tomorrow, there's very little we can do" said CCDM chairman and Bangladesh Cricket Board vice-president Tanveer Haider.

The MCCS, who had a marathon meeting on Saturday night have reportedly decided not to take part in the transfers unless the two-member committee, formed to investigate on the seven cricketers-- Aminul Islam, Khaled Mahmud, Minhazul Abedin, Faruque Ahmed, Enamul Hoque, Mohammad Rafique and Mahbubur Rahman-- submits its report and BCB takes action accordingly.

The two-member committee of DIG (crime) Nurul Alam and Mahfuzur Rahman Siddique, a director of Department of Passport and Immigration, was scheduled to submit their report on January 21. But the BCB yesterday, extended that deadline to January 28.

When contacted, CWAB general secretary Faruque Ahmed made a cautious response to the situation.

"We should be having further discussions with the BCB and the CCDM as there could be loop-holes in the matter," said Faruque over telephone.

"If they have lifted the suspension then why have the CCDM extended the date of submitting the investigation committee report?" asked Faruque.