Checks & balances key to success
![Chandika Hathurusingha Chandika Hathurusingha](https://www.thedailystar.net/sites/default/files/styles/big_202/public/feature/images/chandika_hathurusingha_4.jpg)
If everything goes according to plan, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will extend the tenure of the national team's head coach Chandika Hathurusingha till the 2019 ICC World Cup to be held in England. Without any doubt it would be the right decision for cricket's apex body in the country to confirm the Sri Lankan for another three years in its all-important board meeting on Sunday.
Since he joined the Tigers in June 2014 on a two-year contract, Bangladesh cricket has gone from strength to strength in the international arena. Even a critic of the Sri Lankan would not hesitate to praise his attention to detail, his ability to think about the finer points and the sincerity towards his job.
But it seems that the Tigers' recent success has created a misconception among the administrators. If the general perception among cricket fans is that whatever Bangladesh achieved it is because of their beloved and charismatic captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, then apparently the perception among the influential administrators is that it all happened because of the coach.
The scenario is such that many in cricketing circles say that the Sri Lankan is now the most powerful man in Bangladesh cricket after BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon.
One cannot blame Chandika if he wants to take full control. So far it seems that he has good intentions and will try to achieve his goals in his own way.
But it is the board's duty to ensure checks and balances in the power structure to yield the best results for Bangladesh cricket.
Nothing can happen overnight and Bangladesh have not reached their current status in a two-year burst of brilliance.
After some sporadic wins, Bangladesh first gave notice of their potential in 50-over cricket when they stunned India and reached the second round to beat South Africa in the 2007 ICC World Cup. They then started to prove their prowess on home soil. One cannot forget their success against New Zealand at home in 2010 and 2013 and their 2012 Asia Cup heroics.
In late 2014, Mashrafe took over the reins of a team that had a core group of players who came through a good development programme, like Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah Riyad and the selectors blooded some high-quality youngsters. It was then that good planning from Chandika resulted in a good limited-overs unit.
So a team can get success if the necessary constituents gel well. It would be unwise to think that one man can play all the roles; rather, the administrators must ensure that everyone performs their role to make a successful unit.
The above recollections are necessitated by the BCB's controversial move to revamp the selection panel as many suspect that it is this coach-centric perception that has led to BCB's ridiculous proposals for the selection panel, especially the inclusion of the team manager in the selection process.
The coach can be welcomed into the selection panel but in no way can the board compromise with the independence of the selection committee because, once again, checks and balances are very important. If the cricket operations committee plays its role properly and the CEO keeps his eye on all the issues, then there is no need to change the current selection system which has been working nicely.
We want to believe that when the board members meet on Sunday, when there will be a number of former captains present, to decide on many important current issues involving the selection panel they will act with wisdom before destroying a proven system.
Comments