First Class Cricket in BD

[Sham]

This is going to be a long post folks, so sit back and make yourselves comfortable.

We have all been thinking about the different aspects of cricket in BD and how to bring us up to par with other Test sides. I think we all agree that having a proper, structured and consistent First Class League is absolutely essential to improving the standard of cricket in BD. I have been doing a lot of thinking on this and have reached the following conclusions.

Firstly, I think the First Class Competition should involve the six divisional sides and that is all. I know some of you on this board want a combination of divisional and Dhaka club sides. But that just makes things messy with players having divided loyalties. Also, I don't think we should have too many First Class sides. We should have few so that the talent is concentrated and the standard of cricket is better rather than having too many teams, which will spread the talent more thinly and the standard will suffer. Lets say we have 30 national team hopefuls in Bangladesh at any given time. If we have 6 teams, there will be on average 5 players in each team who are trying to get into the national side. If we have 10 first class teams, there will be an average of only 3 players in each team who are good enough to play for the national team and so each team will be weaker. We want a few good teams rather than a lot of poor teams. (Just look at the difference in standard between Australia, which has 6 state sides and England, which has 18 county sides)

Secondly, we should settle on a time of year when our First Class League will be played. The County Championship in England starts in the last week of April and ends in the first week of September, and that has not changed in the last one hundred years! Every year, BCB changes the dates, pushes it forwards, then pushes it back, its ridiculous. Also, the first class tournament should be played over a period of several months like they do in all other countries. I suggest that we begin sometime at the end of October (last week) and play on till the middle of March. That gives us about 20 weeks (there will be breaks for Eid and stuff like that).

If each of the divisional sides play the each of the others thrice, that will mean 15 four-day games per side in 20 weeks. Each four-day game should be followed by a one-day like it does currently (taken from the county system). On top of that we could get each of the divisional sides to play the BCB Development side twice in three-day matches (no points), just like each of the county sides in England plays Oxford University and Cambridge University once each in three-day matches. The divisional side with the highest points will be champions for the year (no Finals). It would be good to have good cash incentives for winning and being runners-up (not for the players but for the team).

So, each divisional side will play 15 four-day games followed by one-dayers, and 2 three-day games in 20 weeks. It should begin and end at the same time each year. If BD has a foreign tour or a home series, the national players can leave in the middle of the League and come back and rejoin the league just as they do in every other country. But the league must be consistent.

Now, since we will only have six sides, we must make sure that these sides are given every bit of help possible. This means, each side will have a regular home ground (which they do but will have to be improved in some cases, Rajshahi, Barisal, Khulna). They must play on good sporting pitches and have good indoor and outdoor practice facilities. Providing six teams with good pitches, proper indoor and outdoor practice facilities and fitness centres may be expensive, but it will be money well spent.

Each divisional side must have a good head coach. Not some ex-footballer like most cricket coaches in BD right now, but a proper cricket coach. If they bring in foreign coaches for these sides (sub-continentals of course, others would be too expensive) even better!

Also, I believe it will be good to allow each divisional side to have one or two foreign players. It will further raise the standard of cricket. You raise the quality of the teams and it raises the standard and intensity of the cricket being played, as simple as that. However, if a divisional team signs a couple of foreign players, they must do so for the entire season. They should not allow them to bring in a high profile player for one important match in the middle of the season like they do in the Dhaka League (flying in Jayasuriya for one match!)

Once we get this system in place, we could replicate it for the second XI of each divisional side. Have that going simultaneously so if a player is doing poorly for Chittagong firsts, they can drop him and bring someone in from the seconds. More competition for places.

I think if we could have a system such as this and make it run well for a few years, cricket in BD will improve by leaps and bounds. Of course, it will have to be given all the logistic and financial support required. No point having all this if they continue to play on poor pitches, don't have good practice facilities, no proper coaching etc. These things have to be ensured.

So how do we get money and popularity into a divisional first class league? I think for this, the BCB will have to be imaginative, go beyond cricket and tap into society in general. For examples, why not get some of the large corporate companies in BD to sponsor one of the divisional sides each. Lets get the Transcoms, Beximcos, Rangs, Singers of the world into cricket. Nirman poured in a lot of money for many years into the schools' championships. All these companies spend lakhs putting ads on TV when Bangladesh plays. But no one watches BD play anymore because we suck. Might as well put the money into infrastructure. We can call the Dhaka side Rangs Dhaka and Chittagong can be Singer Chittagong. Sounds silly, but they need the promotion and cricket needs the money!

Also, do an aggressive promotional campaign to get people excited about the league. Show matches on TV, inject some divisional pride (go Sylhet, go Kapali, go Rajin!) We have so many members on this board; we could have some serious divisional rivalries going (Tehsin bhai, Chittagong SUX!) We have to go past Abahani-Mohammadan folks, cricket has to go national and each of the divisional towns have to be centres of cricket!

As you all have probably figured out (if you have gotten this far), I have been thinking about this quite a bit. But I am sure this can be further improved. I'm really looking forward to what all of you think and how we can improve things further. I'm sure I've missed stuff out. So write in your comments and suggestions folks. We can even start lobbying Lobi! Thats what we are here for as Samir said in another thread.




[Edited on 2-3-2003 by Sham]

[Tehsin]

Tehsin bhai, Chittagong SUX! ???????


We've got some oldies and we still made the final (until some babies started to cry about not being in the final and we had to play with our weak - not to forget OLD - team again. Give those old bones some rest)

[Sham]

Tehsin bhai,

Thanks for putting it on the front page. Just one thing, its ShamerAn with an A.

[Zobair]

Well put Sham....

I have been thinking about it too...particularly how do we get the message across to Lobster and co?!
we need to come up with a potent strategy.

[Shubho]

...is send that post to the BCB via their so-called website. They have an email link for their "think tank", whatever they understand by that term.

Sham, all of us have been talking about improving the domestic competition, but you're the only one who has really proposed a decent plan. Hats off to you!

Now we need to think of a way to get your message across to the BCB with maximum effect (I'm guessing a simple email won't be enough). What other means do we have at our disposal?

As for contributing ideas...each of these six divisional sides should have several 'satellite' clubs, so that they can draw on regional talent.

Also, I'd suggest not only a maximum of 2 or 3 foreigners per team...but these foreigners must come from the league of an ODI country, and must have played the past couple of seasons in the top flight. No point in getting the substitute of Portsmouth 2nd XI.

[Sham]

Yes I agree. Divisional sides should only be allowed to sign a maximum of 2 foreign players per season., and the foreign players must have first class experience. That limits it to players from the Test playing nations. Actually, who are we kidding? They are all going to sign a couple of Indo and Pak rejects like Gulam Ali and Raman Lamba (RIP). But these guys come to Dhaka and do well, so what can you say? If Indian rejects raise the standard of our cricket, I guess we don't have the right to complain!

And I like the 'satellite clubs' idea. I just concentrated on the first class system. There is just so much more that needs to be done.

[shahid]

Totally agree with you.

[Bradman]

wholeheartedly with Sham's proposal. How do we make it happen? Lets all storm the BCB office, take them hostage and put this system in place.

One suggestion, lets also have divisional age level competitions. Like regular matches between Dhaka u-17 v Rajshahi u-17 etc. What do you guys think?

[DOORBIN]

I am not sure, but I think they do. They should. banglacricket.com is the best cricket forum in connection to Bangladesh cricket and if BCCB officials are not reading these, they are doing INJUSTICE to the country and to the country's cricket, which is our love, our dream and our future.

Sham, thank you for taking the time to write your long article, and I am pretty sure you have done a lot of thinking and research before you wrote that.

YES. WE HAVE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. BUT HOW ?

It's like BIRALER GOLAY GHONTA BANDHBEY KEY ?

The way I see it is we are a team here in banglacricket.com. We are outside the circumference, however, we belong, we do belong to Bangladesh and because we love cricket, we are an integral part of Bangladesh cricket.

Let's assume India and Pakistan have equally strong cricket teams. Now, which team will win? The answer is -- if the match is going to be played in Calcutta, chances are in favour of India. The supporters will be outside the circumference, however, they are the major force who will make the difference.

Therefore, us, being outside the circumference are a similarly strong force. We have to organise as a team to make things happen. Got it ?

We have produced some brilliant ideas on this forum. These ideas can not go away just like that.

Tehsin Bhai, it is your job to do something so that BCCB officials read these. Can a BCCB reprentative confirm on this forum they have read these posts ? Can you make it happen ?

If you can, it will be one of your major achievements. I am pretty sure you can, if you try. Will you try ?

[Tehsin]

Will see what I can do about it. Howeverm there are members in the board with connection to current and former players with links to BCB officials. I would urge them to take the initiative.

If anyone has any suggestions, email addresses, please come forward and provide us the info. It will be useless to support our cricket if it keeps on sliding like this. We owe it to our future Tendulkars amd Wasim Akrams to do this.

[Orpheus]

Guys, the way all of you are replying - it seems as if BCB is lacking ideas. But do you really think that's the case? Every single sports follower can come up with these sorts of ideas to improve our infastructure.....

Again that infamous phrase.. "easier said than done"

So, we are not really lacking ideas - I am positive, the only thing we are lacking is a Leader. (well maybe not the only thing but nevertheless a vital thing) We need some honest leaders who will devote their life in executing these sorts of ideas which comes dime a dozen... Now you go find that leader...

I will not write more or do not have enough ideas <--(meaningful faces) to expand my thoughts .. But here are some key words... and current situation...

MONEY (BCB either have a marketing manager or is hiring one...I know I read it somewhere. My point: Rangs Chittagong sounds good only)

CORRUPTION of sub-leader (you will find one leader who cares if you are lucky...but where are you gonna find honest ppl to run the "satellite" type clubs. My point: If money raised somehow, full amount will not go for the right cause)

There were some other things that popped into my head while I was reading Sham's post but it's been like 12 hours and I am at school..so you know

But here is a suggestion or something that got "missed"

Why don't you all make your own club at your own neighborhood with your own money and then produce some talent... If we get 1000 cricket lovers to do that -- I don't know what's gonna happen but it sounds good.... atleast we get 1000 leaders who cares!!

Ok my post doesn't even make sense to me but I will not let it go in vain...

[Sham]

Bradman,

If I was in Dhaka, I'd be more than happy to join you in storming BCB and taking Lobi hostage! And the divisional age level competitions are a great idea. Keep them coming.

Doorbin,

We naturally expect Tehsin bhai to take the initiative because he runs this site. But the truth is, he does run this site and that makes all this possible, so I think some of the others need to take some initiative and not expect Tehsin bhai to do everything.

As for BCB (the name was changed from BCCB a few years ago) , I am pretty sure no one bothers to read any of this. I would be surprised if they are even aware of this site. Somehow, we need to change that. But how? Perhaps some of the older members have contacts within BCB. Otherwise we could think about drafting a letter in the name of Banglacricket.com and sending it to Lobi and hope for the best!

[Sham]

I hope what you say is true about the BCB having good ideas. However, I think we are lacking more than a good leader. I think SHC was a very good leader, but even he failed to introduce a viable first class system. Something like this should have been put in place years ago, sometime in the mid-1990s so that when we eventually got Test Status, we would be ready for it. We got Test Status almost three years ago and we still don't have one, and thats shameful.

Secondly, I know ideas are a dime a dozen and I wish I was in a position to take my idea and make it happen. But I'm not, so the best we can do is throw these ideas out, try to refine them and then try to get the point across to the people that run BCB. There will be many problems, there will be corruption, but we can't let all that stand in our way. I don't think we need a thousand leaders, you will be surprised what one strong person with clear goals can achieve. We may not be able to pick that person, but perhaps we can help whoever is there to define the goals and help them achieve those goals.

[DOORBIN]

Please don't let this subject (thread) disappear. This is important. Let's do something about it!!!

Please remember, Bangladesh has to beat Australia in August. There is only 5 months in between.
=====================

Oh yeah
Bangladesh beat Australia!!!!!

=====================

(NOTE : Some people will never believe it until they really see it. They would never have believed that Kenya would beat South Africa etc. and reach Super Sixes with such strength. Of course someone believed this was possibe, and the ball started rolling, Kenya started moving fast... Life is like that. FAST. Or SUPERFAST. 5 months is long enough time to prepare. )

Oh yeah
Preparing to beat Australia

[Orpheus]

Please don't let this subject (thread) disappear......Please remember, Bangladesh has to beat Australia in August. There is only 5 months in between.

I think you probably mis-understood the whole point of the article. It's this 5 months improvement attitude that messed up the whole cricket infastructure in BD. I think Sham was thinking about a long term goal when he wrote the article if I am not mistaking.

They would never have believed that Kenya would beat South Africa etc. and reach Super Sixes with such strength

Kenya never beat SA...They beat Sri Lanka and the NZ was given to them. But it doesn't really matter cuz:

KENYA ALL THE WAY BABY!!

[Sham]

Yes, putting a good first-class system in place is part of a long term plan. Even if it happened this year, it won't start untill after the our tour to Australia, so it won't make any difference to that. Doorbin, I admire your optimism. But I think we have to 1) be realistic and 2) take a longer term approach. Bangladesh will not beat Australia. If it happened, I think we will all get to go to Vienna at Shubho's expense, but I dont think any of us are expecting to see Vienna anytime soon. Our cricketing fortunes will not turn around from losing to Canada to beating Australia in five months. However, if we do sort things out, I am sure we can be a cricketing force sooner than some would like to think.

As far as my first class proposal, don't worry, I've already sent it to the enquiry committee for them to have a look at it.

[Maysun]

Almost 10 years later from the OP's post, our FC structure hasn't developed much at all.

Such a shame.

[MohammedC]

Originally Posted by maysun
Almost 10 years later from the OP's post, our FC structure hasn't developed much at all.

Such a shame.

And it will never develop.

[WarWolf]

Originally Posted by MohammedC
And it will never develop.

Optimism at its best!

[MohammedC]

Originally Posted by WarWolf
Optimism at its best!

Worldwide they are worried about structure regardless of star player participating and in Bangladesh we worry too much about the 11 national players participate in domestic cricket. We have to come out of it.

We also need to make good use of our cricket calendar. Cricket seasons only lasts 6 months and our so called organisers don't even know the schedule of each tournament.

Most importantly a player plays for too many different team in a season, I think that's the only reason they are more worried about their individual success than a teams.

County has the best system where a player only plays for one team through out the season whether it is FC,OD or T20 does not matter. They take pride in their county teams success.

Offcourse it is important to ensure national squad participate in domestic cricket but if they are in international duty we should not stop domestic cricket. There is not any direct example of it but I won't be surprised if that has already happened.

[WarWolf]

Originally Posted by MohammedC
Worldwide they are worried about structure regardless of star player participating and in Bangladesh we worry too much about the 11 national players participate in domestic cricket. We have to come out of it.
We also need to make good use of our cricket calendar. Cricket seasons only lasts 6 months and our so called organisers don't even know the schedule of each tournament.
Most importantly a player plays for too many different team in a season, I think that's the only reason they are more worried about their individual success than a teams.

County has the best system where a player only plays for one team through out the season whether it is FC,OD or T20 does not matter. They take pride in their county teams success.

Offcourse it is important to ensure national squad participate in domestic cricket but if they are in international duty we should not stop domestic cricket. There is not any direct example of it but I won't be surprised if that has already happened.

Every good organization has some well thought policy for its success. BCB has only one policy. Make money!

[Maysun]

MoC bhai, NT players not participating is an issue. As it is, we don't play enough Tests and on top of that our players don't want to play the FC matches.

The BCB should have a policy where the NT players should play a minimum number of FC matches. Of course, if the Int'l schedule coincides for the player, he may be exempted.

[MyRoom]

I agree but why not 7 divisional teams instead of the proposed 6? because Rangpur has produced some decent Cricketers like Nasir Hossain. Get rid of Dhaka Metro and have 7 on home and away bases in total 12 first class games a season lasting about 4 good months. Also alter our Cricket pitches and mix them up some pitches slow, spin and low bounce and the others fast and bouncy. For other tournaments, get rid of DPL and have like a Pro 50 league 7 teams home and away with no semi or final and 3 weeks of BPL so that's about 5-6 months of good domestic Cricket for our players a year which is fair and realistic.

[Zunaid]

Do keep in mind the OP was 10 years ago by a BC stalwart - Shameran Abed. Go to the articles menu above and do read his other classic pieces.

[AsifTheManRahman]

Didn't Sham leave because his dad beat the crap out of him for failing his exams as a consequence of spending too much time in BC?