Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan on Friday defended Abahani Limited saying that they were not significantly benefited by any controversial umpiring decision in the ongoing Dhaka Premier League. Nazmul, who holds a vital position in the Abahani hierarchy, rather accused some clubs of hatching a conspiracy against country’s cricket by raising the issues to the International Cricket Council.
The league has been marred by allegations of favouritism and controversial decisions that mostly favoured Abahani, who won their last four matches to book place in the Super League after a miserable start to their campaign.
Legends of Rupganj, Kalabagan Cricket Academy survived some of the controversial decisions against Abahani to put the club on the brink before the local giants somehow rediscovered the winning formula.
However, their win over Prime Doleshwar raised quite a few eyebrows as umpires blatantly favoured the club that clearly influenced the result. Taskin Ahmed was given not out in the last over when he was miles away from the crease, though Nazmul did not see any problem in it.
‘I saw a run out was not given. But there was no relation with the result with that run out,’ Nazmul told reporters at his residence on Friday ‘It would be seven wickets instead of six but they had to win by hitting four and a six in last two balls,’ he said, having been completely oblivious of the fact that Abahani got a crucial run with the decision in that tight final over.
Mosaddek Hossain struck a six and four in the last two balls as Abahani won the game by three wickets to stay alive in the league.
‘Abahani rather lost two matches in the last ball. If they would get the support they would not have lost those games.
‘They even played in the relegation a couple of seasons ago,’ Nazmul said, referring to 2012-13 season, when Abahani lost six matches on the trot and barely avoided the relegations.
Nazmul alleged that a certain section is working to destroy country’s cricket as they had complained to the ICC recently regarding the controversies in the league.
‘I have no doubt it is motivated attempt as images are send to ICC complaining that Bangladesh cricket is being destroyed,’ said Nazmul.
‘[It was alleged that] the match-fixing is frequent [here]. It means every attempt have been made to suspend Bangladesh,’ said Nazmul.
‘You can point many mistakes if you wish. But please beware that this is a conspiracy of destroying Bangladesh’s cricket.
‘I am frequently getting phone calls. When someone from foreign land telephones you and says that each and every game in your country is fixed by money that hurts. It hurts when presidents of other countries tell you that.
‘Please find out whether this news is being sent systematically or not. It will not be my individual loss but it will be your loss too,’ he said.
Nazmul said that he is aware of irregularities in the First Division and Second Division cricket league but received no specific complaint in the DPL, apparently taking a blind eye in the series of allegations that marred the country’s traditional 50-over tournament.
‘I think it will be convenient if you bring something specific,’ said Nazmul. ‘I said earlier regarding the First Division and Second Division [cricket league] and whatever I have to do I will do.
‘I will not spare anybody otherwise we will not get any player,’ he said.
‘No team could enter into the Super League with the benefit of umpiring in the [DPL],’
‘No one can say that they could take any undue advantage,’ he said.
Nazmul said that BCB will seek explanation as why the match between Gazi Group Cricketers and Victoria Sporting Club was deferred by a day by Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis.
It was alleged the game was deferred to provide some undue advantage to Gazi as run-rate could have played a role in deciding their fate. Gazi, belonged to CCDM chairman Gazi Golam Mortaza, eventually lost the game that shattered their dream of playing in the Super League.
‘We will ask officially [why the match was rescheduled] and they must answer it. But the result did not show anything unusual,’ he said.
-With New Age input
