International tournaments are where one plays to win. These are not the right forum to learn, experiment, correct one's technique etc. This is where the BCB has to play a proactive role. They are taking steps to ensure BD participation in glamour events viz World Cup, Asia Cup, Test matches etc. but one would like them to take equal interest in developing future talent which will be able to hold their own in the international stage. One way is of course to play more frequently with A teams of leading nations.
Supply of players for national team comes from the ranks of A teams. A teams also require supply which should come from U-19 as well as first class levels. It appears that the domestic first class srtucture is not in a position to throw up enough suitable players for the higher levels of cricket.
If one does not have inhouse expertise than one has to look outside. BD already has foreign experts in place as coaches for their senior and junior teams.Similarly if enough first class competition is not available in house to hone one's skill then one should look outside to seek such competition.
BD should seriously consider sending a team to participate in the domestic tournaments of other countries. In fact they can have different teams participating in the domestic first class tournaments of different countries.If it is felt that there may not be big enough pool of first class players to send different teams to different countries, they should start by sending a team to one country. From logistical and financial considerations and from the point of view of gaining experience, Indian domestic cricket should be just the right opportunity for this team.
In Indian first class domestic cricket viz Ranji Trophy, teams are divided into elite and plate groups.Elite group with 15 teams include the top teams such as Mumbai( Tendulkar's team), West Bengal( Ganguly),Tamilnadu(Balaji), Karnataka(Dravid), Baroda( Pathan) etc. Plate group with 12 teams have teams such as Orissa(S.S.Das),Kerala(Tinu Yohanan) etc. Based on performance two top teams from the plate group are promoted to the elite group and the two bottom ranked teams from the elite group are relegated to the plate group for the next year.
Let BCB arrange for the team to play in the Ranji trophy, starting from the plate group. No ego please because If they are good enough for the elite group, they will be promoted to the elite group anyway in the next season. Every year, the team is assured to play at least half a dozen first class matches as well as one day matches against some tough teams. Even the plate group teams are quite strong and they contribute players for India A and U-19 teams if not the test teams. This should offer the BD XI much stiffer competition than they will get otherwise.
The only other country that offers such a competition will be England but one is not sure if they will be that accomodating. Moreover financially and logistically it may not be feasible as a long term solution.
In addition, BD XI may play against India Ranji teams located nearer BD, e.g. West Bengal and Assam (both are elite teams at present) on an annual basis. Full Sri Lanka team used to play such an annual match with the neighbouring Indian state of Tamilnadu before their test status days for what was called as M.J.Gopalan trophy. In fact full Sri Lanka team used to play 'test matches' against India A in those days which were taken quite seriously in both countries and given wide media coverage. These matches helped Sri Lanka develop some top class talent viz. Roy Dias, Madugalle, Duleep Mendis,Ashanta De Mel etc who were ready for test status when SL got it in 1982. Of course they had started to win in ODIs before that.
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