Bangladesh Cricket Board needs to shift their focus back on cricket instead of channeling all its energies into the ongoing match-fixing scandal, feels chief selector Akram Khan.
‘We are talking too much on the issue [match-fixing] that is bad for overall cricket of this country,’ Akram told reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Monday.‘For the sake of cricket we need to come out of it as soon as possible.’
The three-member selection panel led by Akram is now passing a busy time as several international competitions for age-level teams are in the offing.
On top of that Bangladesh A team also have a tour to England in August, which is crucial for Bangladesh cricket in many aspects.
But the country’s cricket fraternity is engrossed in the match-fixing scandal after former national captain Mohammad Ashraful was suspended temporarily by the BCB after confessing his involvement to the ICC investigators.
Akram said he was surprised to know about the existence of match-fixing in Bangladesh that rocked the cricket authorities and hoped the involved parties will be punished.
Two members of the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit are currently staying in Dhaka to gather information needed to complete their investigation report on the suspected parties in the Bangladesh Premier League.
They were expected to submit a report in a day or two, but officials said given the current state of investigation it seems that they will take a few more days.
The latest ACSU visit caught some of the BCB officials off guard as they had no prior idea about it. A spokesman for the Rapid Action Battalion, which helped ACSU during their previous visits, said they were also unaware of it.
It could not be immediately confirmed if they had interrogated anyone on Monday.
‘Honestly it was really surprising for me to hear about all these matters,’ said an irritated chief selector Akram.
‘I am confident that the concerned authorities will take necessary steps if anyone is proved guilty in this regard,’ said Akram.
Akram, however, said his focus is solely on age-level teams.
‘Already the preparation camp of the Bangladesh Under-19 team started for their forthcoming tour of England where they will participate in a tri-series involving the hosts and Pakistan.
‘The Under-23 team are expected to start their preparation from July 4-5 for their Singapore tour in August.
The Under-23 side are expected to play in the ACC Emerging Cup from August 15-26 that includes India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka along with the full-member teams of UAE, Nepal, Afghanistan and Singapore.
Akram added that a preparation camp with 28-30 players will start from June 13 for forming the Bangladesh A team for the forthcoming series against England Lions beginning from August 2.
‘We have to add a few more senior players to Bangladesh A team because at the same time we have to prepare an Under-23 team,’ said Akram.
‘Basically the A team is formed with players who are either out of the national team or are hopeful of entering it,’ said Akram.
‘We will put emphasis on physical fitness in the preparation camp,’ he added.
Bangladesh team coach Shane Jurgemsen is expected to reach Dhaka tonight (Monday night) from Australia and sit with the selectors tomorrow (Tuesday) before they finalise the squad for the training camp.
-With New Age input
