Nepotism and lack of discipline are at fault for Bangladesh’s recent failure, observed the new International Cricket Council president AHM Mustafa Kamal.
Kamal was given a hero’s welcome on Monday on his return from Melbourne where he assumed the role of ICC president, a largely ceremonial post without any executive power.
‘These days family relationship entered our cricket,’ Kamal told reporters at Dhaka airport.
‘If uncle and nephew or grand father and his grandson get involved in cricket it won’t be wise for the nation,’ said Kamal, a former president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board.
During his term as the BCB president Kamal had once omitted the name of opener Tamim Iqbal from the squad only for his uncle Akram Khan, the then chief selector, to resign from his position in protest at the move.
The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, directly intervened in the matter prompting Akram to withdraw his resignation letter. Tamim also gave a fitting reply scoring four consecutive fifties in the subsequent Asia Cup, which Bangladesh ended as runners-up.
Things, however, are not the same for Tamim and Akram now as Bangladesh are going through a rough patch of late to remain winless in both Tests and ODIs in 2014.
Kamal, who once infamously made Sakib al Hasan to apologise kneeling in front of him, also urged the BCB to go tough against disciplinary breaches, something which has increased at an alarming rate in the recent times.
‘Cricket is a game of discipline and without discipline it is hard to go forward,’ said Kamal. ‘I don’t see so many cricketers on the billboards in Australia like the way it is here,’ said Kamal.
‘If the player puts all his energy into shooting where will he get the time to practice?,’ he questioned.
Kama succeeded New Zealand’s Alan Isaac as the 11th president of the ICC.
The ICC appointed India’s N Srinivasan as its chairman to run the executive affairs once the full council meeting approves constitutional changes making the president’s post nothing more than ornamental.
Kamal became nostalgic while giving his thanks for the support that he received during his journey to the coveted post.
There was a time when I could not pay my school tuition fees,’ said an emotion-choked Kamal, who is currently serving the Bangladesh government as planning minister. ‘I am thankful to the people who helped me out.’
-With New Age input
