CHITTAGONG: Bangladesh might have lost the ODI series, they might lose the Test series as well, their inconsistency may far outweigh those one-off upsets — but when one sits down to compare their cricket structure vis-à-vis that back home, they are certain to emerge runaway winners.
While the Indian board is still mulling over professionalizing its set-up, a country that attained Test status only in 2000 has done it long back.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) already has an official website that can be ranked as one of the best of its kind; they already have paid selectors with a fixed two-year tenure; there is have no graded contract system — only two types, one-year and six-month contracts — and the players have never complained either; they have a solid junior cricket structure in place; most of its officials are paid professionals and are accountable — and these are only some of the factors.
“We have a proper structure in place to groom youngsters. The most talented ones are sent to the Commonwealth Centre of Excellence in Australia. We have a competitive domestic league. In a few years time you will see the results,” says Rabeed Imam, the media manager and a former cricketer himself and who also manages the official website, tigercricket.com.
The BCB’s National Cricket Academy in Dhaka has already churned out some national players in only the first year of its functioning.
One of them is Tamim Iqbal, the left-handed opener who almost single-handedly saw India out of the World Cup. There are several other talented youngsters like Mehrab Hossain (jr), Nadif Chowdhury, Marshall Ayub, Dollar Mahmud, Ziaul Islam and others, some of whom have already represented the national team.
The difference in the professional approach between the two sides was evident in the just-concluded ODI series.
One could always approach the Bangladesh officials, they were always available to lend a helping ear, and this was true not just for Indian journalists, but for the local scribes as well. One could approach their players at the team hotel — there’s no gag order on their speaking to the media.
On the other hand, the Indians, as always, were totally inaccessible. Not just the players, even bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad and fielding coach Robin Singh claim they have been ‘ordered’ not to talk.
The biggest offender, perhaps, was the team’s administrative manager, former Maharashtra cricketer Surendra Bhave. In the absence of a media manager, he is supposed to keep the outside world informed of the developments. But he was forever incommunicado.
In the absence of any communication from the management, even S Sreesanth’s calf muscle pull was looked upon as a career-threatening injury.
Simple matters, but these are ones that can leave a bitter taste. One can only hope the BCCI takes these factors to note in a positive light.
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