Bangladesh batsman Mohammad Ashraful’s suspension due to match-fixing allegations came as a shock and would certainly diminish the batting strength of the Tigers,
said national coach Shane Jurgensen on Tuesday.
Jurgensen arrived from Australia on Monday and took very little time to get into business attending a meeting with the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s cricket operations committee in the next morning to prepare the future work plan.
The Australian said that the 28-year old Ashraful will be missed but played a very defensive role while negotiating with the reporters regarding the burning issue.
He tactfully skipped away queries with a ‘no comment’ remark without elaborating further in most cases before admitting his shock by the whole affair.
‘There was a little bit of disbelief there,’ Jurgensen told reporters before heading for the important meeting with the BCB officials.
‘If he [Ashraful] is banned, it is a huge loss in the batting order for us. He was batting well and we will miss him,’ said Jurgensen.
‘But I am not going to comment any further in regards to that situation. I don’t really know that many details so I don’t want to comment on it.’
‘It is a very difficult situation for everyone so I will let people do the investigation. We still have to go through with the process of what’s going to be done. I don’t know the findings of the investigations,’ he added.
The country’s cricket fraternity is engrossed in the match-fixing scandal after former national captain Mohammad Ashraful confessed his involvement to the ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit investigators.
Two members of the ACSU visited Dhaka for the last two days to gather information needed to complete their investigation report on the suspected parties in the second edition of 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.
Once the topic of match-fixing changed, Jurgensen emphasised on the importance of the forthcoming camp of the national cricketers from June 13 where the management will primarily focus on fitness.
‘The focus will be purely on fitness. We haven’t had a dedicated time for fitness in quite a while, since before the 2011 World Cup,’ said Jurgensen.
‘The guys will be assessed thoroughly, in light of the injuries that we have had over the last few months. We will see how strong they are and then from there we will be devising programmes for guys specific to their skill-set,’ he added.
The 37-year old Australian added that it was imperative for them to settle down on the matter of match-fixing as soon as possible and move on with cricket.
‘We have to move on with cricket because it is important,’ said Jurgensen.
‘I expect we get into our fitness, hard work and hopefully all the issues will settle down,’ he said.
‘It has to be business as usual as far as the cricket is concerned. We have some really important cricket coming up,’ said Jurgensen.
‘We have all had a really nice break after a long international and domestic cricket season. Now we have to focus strongly on what’s coming up,’ he added.
Jurgensen also asked the BCB to assess every aspect of preparation before agreeing for a limited-overs tour of Ireland as the governing body is mulling over a proposal sent in by Cricket Ireland for a tour in August.
‘Any opportunity to play cricket matches is important but what will be important is to see when these matches will actually happen,’ said Jurgensen.
‘I am aware of there potentially being a tour but we have to make sure it is our best preparation leading into the series against New Zealand,’ said Jurgensen.
Ireland is currently ranked 11th, two places below Bangladesh in the official one-day international rankings. The Irish are however ranked ninth in the T20I rankings and are ahead of the Tigers.
Jurgensen is expected to prepare the Tigers for the next assignment that is scheduled against New Zealand at home from October.
They will contest in a two-match Test series which will be followed by a three match one-day series and a solitary Twenty20 international.
-With New Age input
