BCB CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS AND EFFECTS (4)
Domestic cricket in total disarray
It has been eight months since the Bangladesh Cricket Board is being run by an ad hoc committee. A constitutional crisis that prevented the BCB from holding an election for months took a heavy toll on the organisation. The Appellate Division of Supreme Court on Thursday allowed BCB to hold the election in the greater national interest without waiting for the legal battle to end. In this series of reports, we look into subjects badly affected by the absence of an elected body.
Soon after he took over as Bangladesh Cricket Board president, Nazmul Hasan was praised for his courageous decision of postponing Bangladesh’s Pakistan tour despite an unconditional commitment by his predecessor.
Pakistan retaliated blocking their players from participating in the Bangladesh Premier League, but Nazmul, with his acumen, handled the situation very well.
BPL may have lost some colour in the absence of the Pakistanis, but it did not get delayed for a day because of it. The tournament ended as per schedule, despite its countless problems, earning huge plaudits for Nazmul.
Unfortunately, the success of Nazmul was limited to it as he became gradually a hostage by club officials, who backed him earlier to get the BCB post.
He could not be as courageous about the Dhaka Premier League as he was in other cases and as a result the schedule of domestic cricket was left in total disarray.
Clubs came up with one after another excuses to avoid the league and Nazmul had no choice but to agree with them, meaning no domestic cricket since February.
There is a rumour in the cricketing corridor that clubs do not want the Dhaka Premier League at all in this season as it will inevitably change the standing and thereby jeopardise their election plan.
Players and organisers said if the BCB president was a bit sensible on this issue the league would have been completed by this time and the board could have already started preparation for the National Cricket League already.
The NCL was crucial for Bangladesh’s preparation for the forthcoming New Zealand series, but in the present circumstances it is unlikely to start before the end of the ICC World Twenty20 in April.
It is no secret why the BCB president could not take any hard-line position against the badgering clubs as they are his vote bank in the upcoming election.
In the new BCB constitution, the clubs have more votes than ever as the top six Dhaka Premier League clubs were given two councillorships each and it is widely believed that Nazmul had played part in framing the constitution.
The constitution, amended by the National Sports Council, was designed in such a way that it has strengthened the clubs’ position giving them an edge over the district and divisional sports orgainsers.
It is, therefore, no wonder why a district and divisional organisers’ forum leader went to court challenging the constitution, which is still waiting to be cleared legally.
Cricket insiders said if Nazmul was not so much dependent on the clubs things would have been completely different.
A constitution with general consensus among the club and district officials would have meant a smooth functioning of the BCB in his time. That would have ensured a perfect domestic season as well without damaging the interest of any stakeholders.
-With New Age input
