The world of cricket is divided. Cricket’s most powerful and
richest boards – BCCI , CA
and ECB – have unleashed a list of proposals which can be nothing but
unacceptable from whichever way you look at it. The enraged lesser cricket
boards immediately raised their voice against the suggested proposals in the
recently concluded International Cricket Council meeting in Dubai
on January 28 and 29. Along with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the Cricket
South Africa (CSA) and the Sri Lankan Cricket Board (SLC), the Bangladesh
Cricket Board (BCB) raised its voice against the Big Three, too.
Though the Bangladesh Cricket Board chief Nazmul Hassan
Papon initially decided to support the Big Three, strong protests from the die
hard cricket fans of Bangladesh
cricket, who took the streets to express their angst, and the cricket critics
of the country forced Papon to take a stance against the proposed ICC revamp.
Hence, during the ICC meeting, Papon protested against the
two-tier system, and in response, the ICC sorted out the issue by setting up a
new clause, which says: “There will be an opportunity for all Members to play
all formats of cricket on merit, with participation based on meritocracy; no
immunity to any country, and no change to membership status.”
On hearing the assurance, the voice of Nazmul Hassan Papon
became low-pitched, and he decided not to protest further more and shook hands
with the Big Three. His main aim was to save Bangladesh ’s
Test status, and he had managed to achieve that. The other proposals did not
bother him, and the gloomy future of world cricket in the near future is not
all his headache afterall.
Surely, Bangladesh
is not in a position in world cricket to think deeply about the other critical
structural and financial issues. But shouldn’t the thought regarding the
betterment of cricket have come to mind? Isn’t Bangladesh
a part of world cricket?
With Papon accepting the revised proposals, the Big Three
are now just one vote away from the number required to push through the constitutional
amendments in order to fulfill their greed. Has the Bangladesh Cricket Board
chief done the right thing by deciding to support the Big Three?
Papon arrived at the Shahjalal
International Airport
in Dhaka and spoke in a manner as if he had won a big
battle. Nazmul Hassan said: “We will be in a better position than others. We
haven’t been to India
in 14 years. We will go there to play Tests, they will come here too. We will
go to England ; Australia
will come here.” The chief received a big round of applause as soon as he
finished the short speech.
Has Papon been given any written assurance? If not, are
verbal promises worth it? One must not forget how the BCCI has been dealing
with the PCB regarding a bilateral Indo-Pak series in a neutral venue. Someday,
it could be Bangladesh
at the receiving end.
Again, whether the teams like England ,
Australia and India
will be interested to play against Bangladesh
amid their busy schedule remains a moot question. Bangladesh
should sign a written agreement regarding the tour of India ,
England and Australia .
Verbal promises have no values at all.
Moreover, before signing the Members Participation
Agreements(MPA), did Papon read the proposal carefully? What does that ‘all
Members’ in the readjusted proposal mean? Does that include only the members
from the Test world or the associate members also? It’s not clear at all.
Then comes the “participation based on meritocracy.” What
sort of meritocracy? Al-Amin, a sports journalist of Bangladeshi newspaper ‘Daily
Star’ has explained this ‘meritocracy’ in a better manner: “Interestingly, the
ICC has already adopted and implemented the concept of ‘meritocracy’ in the
shorter versions. And this is why Bangladesh
and Zimbabwe
are playing the qualifying phase in the coming ICC T20 World Cup.”
Then, “no immunity to any country.” What does this ‘immunity’
indicate? Al-Amin has explained: “If we assume that Test cricket will be played
in the future in the way that it is played now, then the question of relegation
should not exist. But the words ‘no immunity to any country’ would only exist
if there was the possibility of relegation.”
A quick look at the readjusted proposal might create a sense
of ecstasy and make us all think that Bangladesh ’s
Test status is secured, but there is much more lying beneath it. I think Papon
should have asked for more time to think about the proposal. Bangladeshis are
known as fighters and don't get bogged down under any pressure, but I am afraid
the chief has just done that.
Instead of siding with the Big Three, Nazmul Hassan Papon
should have remained alongside Pakistan ,
South Africa
and Sri Lanka . If
further needed, Papon and the others who are protesting could seek the help of
the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and question the legality of the Big
Three’s revamp plan. But, if Nazmul Hassan signs the MPA on February 8, will he
be able to do that then? There’s still time to rethink.
If the Big Three’s promises to BCB do get implemented, money
will flow in Bangladesh
cricket as the country will get more opportunities to play against India ,
England and Australia .
The promises of cunning minds can hardly be trusted, though. Deep down, I also
feel that they are short term benefits. The Bangladeshi cricket fans might
cheer, but as an ardent follower of this glorious game of uncertainties, I am
concerned about the well-being of world cricket.
Note: This article has been published in Sportskeeda on 2/02/2014 What have you just done to Bangladesh cricket, Nazmul Hassan Papon?
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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