‘A majority just don’t use their brains’
The main purpose of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) was to create a platform that local players could use to showcase their talents while also strengthening the national team's pipeline, but although a few young players have emerged, Comilla Victorians head coach Mohammad Salahuddin believes a lack of common sense from local cricketers is the biggest reason Bangladeshi players have not taken the next step.
The prominent coach highlighted the poor mindset of the local cricketers, especially among those who have experience and talent but have been unable to utilise opportunities, opining that not using their brains was the reason foreign players still towered above.
"What I expect from local players is to apply simple common sense. But I doubt whether they have that common sense. If you have been playing for over 15 years in domestic cricket in Mirpur, I think you need to know what to do in different situations. I am very disappointed by the mindset of the cricketers. At times, I wonder whether they even think about the game. If you compare our local players to Mohammad Rizwan, some have less limitations than him or maybe they can hit harder. But whenever they go out, things are quite the opposite," Salahuddin lamented.
"I have said previously that some players in our country play with their brain but a majority just don't. When the question is common, they do well. But if anything is from outside their syllabus, they can't. That is very disappointing. When you have been playing for over 10-12 years you need to have some common sense."
When queried whether fears of losing their place in the team added extra pressure on the local players and perhaps held them back, Bangladesh's former fielding coach put the spotlight back on their knowledge of the game.
"I don't think it's the fear factor. They have less knowledge about cricket. They don't know what to do in different pitches and situations. When everything is in my control, why would I do something that could lead to trouble? Until you grow this awareness… I don't know when will they learn the game, only the Almighty knows."
In order to improve the quality of cricketers, Salahuddin urged drastic changes in coaching from the grassroot levels, opining that the time had come for a complete reboot of the coaching system.
"If you have poor grammar, you won't be able to comprehend an English essay. A majority of players are dependent on coaches and follow whatever the coach says. But a coach won't go out and play. That is when their brains freeze. It's a failure of the system. I think the computer is not set properly. This needs to be done from childhood.
"If we are able to give them freedom, then this problem won't arise. I think the problem is more from the coaches' side. There is no point blaming the players if, at one point, the brain does not respond properly. If we can change the coaching methods from childhood, then things might work," he added.
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