Though Mohammedan Sporting Club agreed to play their remaining matches of the Dhaka Premier League, they are unhappy at the way the Bangladesh Cricket Board handled the recent crisis.
The BCB had announced to resume the league from May 31 after the representatives of the six clubs, including Mohammedan, sat at a meeting with the BCB high-ups on Tuesday.
The league has remained suspended since March 28 after Abahani and Victoria ended an incomplete game with the latter pulling out half-way through the match alleging their opponents to have fielded an illegal player in Mohammad Yousuf.
The BCB asked both the clubs to play a re-match and promised to reorganise the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis and also declared Yousuf ineligible for the remaining matches.
It seemed to have satisfied Abahani, the main protagonist in the lengthy saga, but Mohammedan, their big ally in the whole affair, have reasons to feel aggrieved.
Mohammedan wanted the BCB to identify the culprits who they said have faked the transfer clearance of Yousuf. But the BCB ended the whole affair saying that it was simply a ‘misunderstanding’.
Mohammedan also questioned the BCB’s decision of ordering for a rematch, which they said is a gross violation of league by-laws.
‘First of all there is no rule for a replay match in the by-laws. But the Board allowed it which has surely created a bad example. If any such situation arises it will be used as a reference,’ Khondaker Jamiluddin, chairman of Mohammedan cricket committee, told New Age.
‘Apart from that the Yousuf issue was also not resolved which was our primary demand,’ said Jamil.
Lokman Bhuiya, who was pulling the strings for Mohammedan behind the scene, added fuel to a speculation that the club may well backtrack from their position of returning to the field.
‘We have never said that we will play. Let me talk with the other directors and then we will decide,’ he said
Wasim Khan, manager of Mohammedan cricket team, who represented the club at the meeting, was surprised at the U-turn made by his club officials.
‘It is mainly a problem between Abahani and Victoria. Since they have agreed to return to the field, I thought there is no reason why we can’t do the same,’ he said.
‘I explained why we are agreeing to play and he [Lokman] had given his nod,’ said Wasim.
Lokman said Wasim was late at the meeting so he missed a few things.
‘Wasim was not present when they discussed certain issues,’ he said.
‘The BCB has clearly violated the by-laws. They have to amend it now to make their decision legitimate; otherwise we will have to think if we will play in the league,’ Lokman told reporters.
-With New Age input
