Eshen
June 2, 2008, 02:01 PM
"Door open for all"
http://www.newagebd.com/2008/jun/03/spt.html
Rafiqul Alam, the chief selector of Bangladesh Cricket Board, had a busy time in the past one month to form the teams for the forthcoming tri-series, Asia Cup and the Ireland and England-bound A team. He talks about the teams, players and the recent trends with Azad Majumder of New Age
Q: You have passed a busy time. How difficult it was to form so many teams?
A: We just had to go through a process. Players of the national team, domestic tournaments, Under-19 team and Academy team have all come into our consideration. Even we looked into the performances of our players in the Minor County and IPL. Yes, in the last month we were very busy as we had to make so many teams. But in the end we did our job.
Q: What was the most difficult decision?
A: The whole thing was very difficult. After the World Cup our senior players were not firing, not scoring enough runs. We faced difficulty in forming the A team as well. We picked at least six players from the Asia Cup squad for the England-bound A team, but it wasn’t a very easy decision.
Q: Senior players were ignored for both the national team and the A team. Do you think they have nothing more to give?
A: I have always said senior or junior player is not a matter for me. It all depends on form, fitness, pitch, weather condition and opponents. I have no grudge against the senior players because some of them are proven performers. If we think we need their services, we will pick them directly.
Q: Habibul Bashar said he was expecting a call-up to the A team to get prepared for the busy Test season ahead. Why he has been denied the chance?
A: Habibul Bashar does not need to prove anything. He is very important player to us. We have given him a one-year contract, while the others got six months’ contracts. It shows we have still faith in him. We did not want to take him in the A team, because we thought it would be embarrassing for him. I agree that he needs practice. But we have some plan for him. The BCB agreed to provide one-to-one coach for him during the off time.
Q: If Akram Khan, a member of your selection committee, can lead A team in the twilight of his career (to West Indies in 2003), why not Bashar?
A: That was a different situation. At that time the BCB wanted to groom some younger players under the guidance of a senior cricketer like Akram. I guess there was Dave Whatmore on that West Indies tour, so the presence of someone like Akram was important. This time we don’t need it as Jamie Siddons is probably going to England with the A team.
Q: Some of the players like Tapash and Tushar, who are in their late twenties, seemed to have disappeared from the international scene. Do you think they can come back?
A: Of course, they have a chance to come back. We kept the door open for everyone. But they have to perform at some level. We will even consider the performance in other professional leagues like Minor County. We have plenty of domestic competitions now, it’s better for them to concentrate on performing there. We are fair to all.
Q: Alok deserved a chance in the team that had been announced earlier. Why he was needed to come on only as the replacement of Aftab.
A: No doubt, Alok had performed very well in domestic cricket last season. But we had little choice earlier. Sakib (al Hasan) had pulled out, but we could not consider Alok in his place because of the former’s bowling. Sakib’s bowling gave the team a kind of balance and we needed someone like that. So we took Mehrab (Hossain). Anyway, Alok had to come in place of Aftab. But we did not want to drop Aftab as we were already missing Sakib. Aftab was out of form for only two months. So we thought it would be unfair to drop him.
Q: The team is going through a lean patch. Still the experiment is going on. Why?
A: I don’t think we are experimenting with the team. Initially we took some new players because we wanted to build a team for 2011 World Cup, but the situation forced us to make the other changes.
Q: You have inducted at least seven players (Junaed, Sajidul, Roqibul, Mosharraf, Dhiman, Nazmiuddin and Dollar) in less than a year after taking charge. Don’t you think this is too much?
A: I have already given answer to this question. Junaed and Roqibul forced their way into the national team with good domestic performances. We sent Sajidul to New Zealand because Rasel was injured. Mosharraf came in the side as a back-up spinner to Razzak after Mohammad Rafique retired. We took Dhiman as Mushfiq lost his form. And you know why we have picked Dollar now. Either Nazmul or Rasel was our choice for this slot. But they have groin and ankle injury respectively. So we had only Dollar and Rubel Hossain to choose from and we chose Dollar as he is relatively experienced.
Q: Some of the players you have picked, like Sajidul and Junaed, were impressive on their debut, but dwindled later. What was the reason behind this?
A: Sajidul is a good bowler, a strong lad. He did well in New Zealand. But you know he went there as the replacement of Rasel. But now Rasel is back in his place and it may affect Sajidul’s performance. I am, however, a bit disappointed with Junaed. He was picked as a good opening prospect particularly for one-day cricket. But unfortunately he failed to click in the limited-over format and instead got success only in Test.
Q: How confident you are that Mushfiqur Rahim will make the most of his chance this time?
A: Technically Mushfiq is a good batsman and he has proved it in the past. Unfortunately he had lost his form, but now he has regained it and so we selected him. I hope he will do well.
Q: Are you happy about his wicket- keeping ability?
A: He needs to improve, no doubt. But I hope he will do it in time.
Q: Being the chief selector what you think is the major drawback of Bangladesh team at the moment?
A: The major drawback is that our senior players are not performing. Ashraful, Aftab and Shahriar weren’t getting enough runs. They have to feel it and have to be professional.
Q: Finally, what will be your message to coach Jamie Siddons and captain Mohammad Ashraful?
A: Patience is the key, Jamie. Keep patience, I hope you will be able to lift Bangladesh to a position within the time limit that was given to you. For Ashraful, I think he must show more depth and maturity as a batsman.
http://www.newagebd.com/2008/jun/03/spt.html
Rafiqul Alam, the chief selector of Bangladesh Cricket Board, had a busy time in the past one month to form the teams for the forthcoming tri-series, Asia Cup and the Ireland and England-bound A team. He talks about the teams, players and the recent trends with Azad Majumder of New Age
Q: You have passed a busy time. How difficult it was to form so many teams?
A: We just had to go through a process. Players of the national team, domestic tournaments, Under-19 team and Academy team have all come into our consideration. Even we looked into the performances of our players in the Minor County and IPL. Yes, in the last month we were very busy as we had to make so many teams. But in the end we did our job.
Q: What was the most difficult decision?
A: The whole thing was very difficult. After the World Cup our senior players were not firing, not scoring enough runs. We faced difficulty in forming the A team as well. We picked at least six players from the Asia Cup squad for the England-bound A team, but it wasn’t a very easy decision.
Q: Senior players were ignored for both the national team and the A team. Do you think they have nothing more to give?
A: I have always said senior or junior player is not a matter for me. It all depends on form, fitness, pitch, weather condition and opponents. I have no grudge against the senior players because some of them are proven performers. If we think we need their services, we will pick them directly.
Q: Habibul Bashar said he was expecting a call-up to the A team to get prepared for the busy Test season ahead. Why he has been denied the chance?
A: Habibul Bashar does not need to prove anything. He is very important player to us. We have given him a one-year contract, while the others got six months’ contracts. It shows we have still faith in him. We did not want to take him in the A team, because we thought it would be embarrassing for him. I agree that he needs practice. But we have some plan for him. The BCB agreed to provide one-to-one coach for him during the off time.
Q: If Akram Khan, a member of your selection committee, can lead A team in the twilight of his career (to West Indies in 2003), why not Bashar?
A: That was a different situation. At that time the BCB wanted to groom some younger players under the guidance of a senior cricketer like Akram. I guess there was Dave Whatmore on that West Indies tour, so the presence of someone like Akram was important. This time we don’t need it as Jamie Siddons is probably going to England with the A team.
Q: Some of the players like Tapash and Tushar, who are in their late twenties, seemed to have disappeared from the international scene. Do you think they can come back?
A: Of course, they have a chance to come back. We kept the door open for everyone. But they have to perform at some level. We will even consider the performance in other professional leagues like Minor County. We have plenty of domestic competitions now, it’s better for them to concentrate on performing there. We are fair to all.
Q: Alok deserved a chance in the team that had been announced earlier. Why he was needed to come on only as the replacement of Aftab.
A: No doubt, Alok had performed very well in domestic cricket last season. But we had little choice earlier. Sakib (al Hasan) had pulled out, but we could not consider Alok in his place because of the former’s bowling. Sakib’s bowling gave the team a kind of balance and we needed someone like that. So we took Mehrab (Hossain). Anyway, Alok had to come in place of Aftab. But we did not want to drop Aftab as we were already missing Sakib. Aftab was out of form for only two months. So we thought it would be unfair to drop him.
Q: The team is going through a lean patch. Still the experiment is going on. Why?
A: I don’t think we are experimenting with the team. Initially we took some new players because we wanted to build a team for 2011 World Cup, but the situation forced us to make the other changes.
Q: You have inducted at least seven players (Junaed, Sajidul, Roqibul, Mosharraf, Dhiman, Nazmiuddin and Dollar) in less than a year after taking charge. Don’t you think this is too much?
A: I have already given answer to this question. Junaed and Roqibul forced their way into the national team with good domestic performances. We sent Sajidul to New Zealand because Rasel was injured. Mosharraf came in the side as a back-up spinner to Razzak after Mohammad Rafique retired. We took Dhiman as Mushfiq lost his form. And you know why we have picked Dollar now. Either Nazmul or Rasel was our choice for this slot. But they have groin and ankle injury respectively. So we had only Dollar and Rubel Hossain to choose from and we chose Dollar as he is relatively experienced.
Q: Some of the players you have picked, like Sajidul and Junaed, were impressive on their debut, but dwindled later. What was the reason behind this?
A: Sajidul is a good bowler, a strong lad. He did well in New Zealand. But you know he went there as the replacement of Rasel. But now Rasel is back in his place and it may affect Sajidul’s performance. I am, however, a bit disappointed with Junaed. He was picked as a good opening prospect particularly for one-day cricket. But unfortunately he failed to click in the limited-over format and instead got success only in Test.
Q: How confident you are that Mushfiqur Rahim will make the most of his chance this time?
A: Technically Mushfiq is a good batsman and he has proved it in the past. Unfortunately he had lost his form, but now he has regained it and so we selected him. I hope he will do well.
Q: Are you happy about his wicket- keeping ability?
A: He needs to improve, no doubt. But I hope he will do it in time.
Q: Being the chief selector what you think is the major drawback of Bangladesh team at the moment?
A: The major drawback is that our senior players are not performing. Ashraful, Aftab and Shahriar weren’t getting enough runs. They have to feel it and have to be professional.
Q: Finally, what will be your message to coach Jamie Siddons and captain Mohammad Ashraful?
A: Patience is the key, Jamie. Keep patience, I hope you will be able to lift Bangladesh to a position within the time limit that was given to you. For Ashraful, I think he must show more depth and maturity as a batsman.