Most still found wanting
In order to raise the fitness levels of domestic cricketer, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) set a minimum score of 11 in the beep test to participate in the upcoming National Cricket League.
The raised bar has caused a few problems for some of the more experienced cricketers, who are now seeking special consideration from the selection panel after falling short of the mark in their second attempt.
Beep test scores loomed large among Bangladeshi cricketers yesterday as at least 30 cricketers of different divisions lined up for the test after falling short in the first try.
National selector Habibul Bashar however allayed some of the fear by saying that there would be some leniency this season, but that the standard will be strictly adhered to from next season.
Among them were well-known names such as Mohammad Ashraful, Abdur Razzak, Tushar Imran, Nasir Hossain and Elias Sunny. Although the cricketers were able to improve upon their first scores, a majority were unable to reach the BCB's benchmark of 11.
Ashraful and Razzak were two who were found wanting with scores of 10 and 10.1 respectively, each having scored less than 10 previously. Top-order batsman Imrul Kayes and right-arm pacer Al Amin Hossain were the only two players to have donned national colours to pass the Test with 12 and 12.2 respectively.
The likes of Ashraful and Razzak, who are illustrious names in domestic cricket, failing has raised the argument that performance and age should also be factors in selection, and not just a fitness mark.
"Performance should be considered first. A performer should have a minimum consideration but it does not mean that the fitness level will be poor. There has to be a minimum level of fitness too, if not the player should not be considered for selection," Razzak told reporters.
Bashar admitted that some players would be considered for other factors such as age and performance.
"It [other factors] will be considered for this season only. We will strictly follow the fitness test from next season. We have an ambition to set a minimum standard for the NCL, and fitness is a main aspect," Bashar told reporters yesterday.
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