Bangladesh at risk of not featuring in post Covid-19 priorities
26 June 2000, 20 years ago on this very day Bangladesh were accepted into the elite of Test playing nations during an ICC board meeting at Lords. 20 years ago, not many of the other Test playing nations would have supported Bangladesh's cause unless bilateral interactions, discussions and negotiations, led by then BCB president Saber Hossain Chowdhury convinced the other ICC members to give Bangladesh the thumbs up. The coronavirus pandemic may have however opened up a doorway to a challenge of similar stature for Bangladesh after all these years.
The Tigers have faced a total of five series postponements while cricketing activities in the country have been on hold since mid-March due to the pandemic. That Bangladesh are at risk of being left out of the loop of international bilateral series, can be surmised from the words of the man who played the most important role in the country attaining Test status 20 years ago.
In an interview with The Daily Star, the former BCB president Saber, had this to say: "I suspect bilateral interactions, discussions and negotiations will now become more important and there is a distinct possibility that the more powerful members of the ICC will be driven by pure commercial considerations in finalising their calendars and schedules. The likes of Bangladesh may not feature in their priorities and this could result in even fewer international matches for us. Personal relationship and contacts as well as effective outreach and engagement with other boards are now more important than ever and BCB really needs to up its diplomatic game."
Cricket Australia have been pondering loss of revenues if they do not get India to play the Test series in November. England and Wales Cricket Board too are looking to go ahead with plans to host Pakistan in August. The current Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh means that BCB cannot even ponder getting the players to come back into training.
ECB are already hosting West Indies with the players in a bio-secure training bubble, one that England pacer Mark Wood said was like being in a sci-fi movie. That kind of facility cannot yet be contemplated here. Thus, its difficult for all upcoming series that Bangladesh were to host to go through if the pandemic carries on for longer period.
"It's important for the BCB to think about post-pandemic world and how it will go forward," Saber told The Daily Star yesterday.
If in the current situation the diplomatic relations are not forged, then we may likely see the top boards only playing series against each other in order to create revenue, leaving Bangladesh out of the loop.