The national selection committee, led by former captain Akram Khan, ended its two-year term on Sunday after a bitter-sweet journey that saw the Tigers go through many ups and down.
During its tenure the Bangladesh national team reached the Asia Cup final for the first time while they also won the one-day series against West Indies at home. They carried their form on Sri Lanka tour by drawing both the Test and one-day series before narrowly going down in the only Twenty20 match of the series.
However, the success in Sri Lanka was marred by their poor showing in Zimbabwe when they somehow managed to draw the Test series but lost the one-day series against a side they thought they can beat very easily.
The selection panel also had their share of drama as Akram resigned on March 7 in protest at interference in squad selection for the Asia Cup by the former BCB president AHM Mustafa Kamal.
The decision came after his 15-member Asia Cup squad was not retained by Kamal, who omitted the name of opener Tamim Iqbal. The matter received such widespread media coverage that the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, had to intervene, something which was unprecedented in the Bangladesh cricket history.
Akram said he was happy in the last few months as there was no interference like the beginning of his term as selector.
‘In the initial phase there was some interference. But in the last few months it was okay,’ said Akram, whose only regret is his inability to give exposure to enough youngsters.
‘I think the only disappointment is that I could not produce enough youngsters as they lacked performance,’ said Akram.
‘Unless there are enough players in the pipeline it would be difficult for us to grow as a cricketing nation,’ he added.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board said it is considering giving the present committee a brief extension as some of the current selectors might not be available afterwards.
‘We will probably give them a short-term extension,’ said Jalal Yunus, chairman of the BCB’s media and communication committee.
‘There is a possibility that someone on the current panel may be interested in running for the post director in the upcoming board election.
‘We also have some international commitments in the meantime and to meet those immediately we need to carry on with them,’ Jalal added.
Akram admitted he himself is willing to contest in the BCB election as he believed that he can deliver a lot more by taking charge of the age-level group with his experience.
-With New Age input
