'BKSP a little too far' from selectors' comfort zone: Is BCB aware of the repercussions?

The primary responsibility of national selectors is to identify players capable of fulfilling roles that contribute to the national team's goals. To do so effectively, the selection panel is expected to attend a significant number of domestic matches.  However, questions have emerged over the selection panel's noticeable absence from matches held at BKSP during the Dhaka Premier League (DPL), the country's premier 50-over competition. 

In the context of Bangladesh cricket, the DPL, National Cricket League (NCL), Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL), and Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) are the key tournaments that provide selectors with opportunities to assess performers. Among these, the DPL remains the most important platform for identifying prospects in the shorter formats. Yet, despite its importance, the selectors' physical presence at several DPL venues has been limited, particularly at BKSP.

With Hannan Sarkar stepping down from his role to pursue a coaching career, the current selection panel comprises Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu, the chairman of the selection panel, and Abdur Razzak.

Since no other domestic competitions take place during the DPL, the selection panel is not overly burdened. This led to questions about why selectors were not regularly seen at BKSP matches this season.

When asked about the issue at a press conference in Mirpur yesterday, Lipu admitted that in-person viewing remains the most effective method of judging players, yet pointed to the availability of live streaming as an alternative.

"I myself believe that if we can watch the games from the ground and the site is very good, then that's really good. Because how a captain is running the side or how a batter is scoring runs, can be seen in perfect detail. But at the same time, I want to congratulate the cricket board for how the DPL was presented through live streaming. We could watch the games at home on a big screen and even at the office while doing other work," Lipu said yesterday.

Travel to BKSP is often challenging due to regular traffic congestion, an issue frequently mentioned by players during the DPL. With three matches played each match day, selectors may have preferred attending games at the more accessible Mirpur venue rather than those at BKSP.

Even during the recently concluded tournament, the chief selector was seen speaking with curators and ground staff in Mirpur to better understand the performances and pitch conditions.

At a time when the lack of players in the pipeline has come back into focus with several senior stars stepping down, finding new players for positions remains of utmost importance.
Evaluating a player's performance in context is best done by observing games in person. Talking to players, and absorbing key information of their roles is also important when heading back to the selection table.

"BKSP is a little too far for us, considering we have to monitor these things while travelling three hours. In that light, maybe we couldn't go to BKSP but I admit there can be nothing better than going to the field and watching the games," Lipu had said.

If the selectors find BKSP "too far" to reach, Bangladesh cricket may find it even harder than it already is to reach the level that is displayed by the biggest teams on the grandest of stages of the sport.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) relies heavily on its selectors to identify the next generation of cricketers and make informed decisions. That mission is undermined if selections are made based primarily on televised footage rather than real-time, in-person evaluation. If players can make the arduous journey, the selectors should be able to do so as well. It is imperative that BCB ensures its selectors fulfil their duties.