When Faruque Ahmed took cost because the president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) final month, following Nazmul Hassan’s resignation, he grew to become the primary president of the board to have performed any aggressive cricket.
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Having featured in seven ODIs between 1988 and 1999, and main Bangladesh within the ICC Trophy in 1994, Ahmed additionally served because the chairman of the nationwide choice committee for a protracted time period. Regarded extremely by the fraternity, Ahmed believes in ‘main by instance’ and placing the gamers’ pursuits first.
Forward of Bangladesh’s tour of India, Ahmed spoke to Sportstar on his targets because the president of the BCB and in addition shared his ideas on constructing a cordial relationship with the Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Q. What are the targets that you’ve set for your self?
A: That is one thing that’s very a lot associated to my work. I’ve been a participant, then went to grow to be the chairman of the nationwide choice committee, and now this new function gives wider scope. There are heaps (of issues) to be performed. I’m not blaming anybody, however during the last 10 to fifteen years, now we have failed to handle numerous points that required consideration. So, I plan to work on the all-round growth of Bangladesh cricket, ranging from the grassroots.
Whereas we have to work tougher with the senior nationwide group, the main focus needs to be on the grassroots. And, to make sure that now we have issues in place, it’s a should to have extra well-equipped grounds. Since we play numerous cricket as of late – proper from the varsity stage – the variety of grounds want to extend, in any other case we won’t be able to accommodate so many fixtures. If we are able to’t enhance our infrastructure, our progress will likely be restricted to a sure level and that’s not what we would like.
Ahmed mentioned the BCB had failed to handle a number of points during the last 10 to fifteen years.
| Picture Credit score:
BCB
Ahmed mentioned the BCB had failed to handle a number of points during the last 10 to fifteen years.
| Picture Credit score:
BCB
So, we’re working exhausting to get extra grounds and in addition enhance our umpiring requirements throughout ranges. One other essential goal is to create a pool of native gifted coaches, who will be on the helm of assorted groups. The system hasn’t been structured to date, and going ahead, we have to produce extra native coaches in order that gamers can perceive their language and may talk higher. These are finer factors, however we have to work on these core areas to assist the sport develop additional on this a part of the world.
Take a look at the way in which India has developed its cricketing construction to grow to be one of many most interesting groups on the planet; it wanted numerous exhausting work. We additionally wish to give attention to these areas. Issues gained’t change in a single day, however with the fitting intention, we are able to make issues occur.
Q. You spoke about having extra native coaches within the set-up. So, sooner or later, will we see a former Bangladesh cricketer on the helm of the nationwide group as the pinnacle coach?
A: Sure, the thought is to contain increasingly former cricketers within the set-up. Even when we don’t get them on the head coach function straight away, we must always take a look at involving them in some capability with the nationwide group. Within the Excessive Efficiency centre, our native coaches are already working exhausting with the abroad coaches, and the identical must be performed with the nationwide groups as effectively. We should always undoubtedly usher in former Bangladesh cricketers as assistant coaches or spin bowling coaches, going ahead. We’ve some excellent skills, and it’s essential that we encourage them to be a part of the system.
Q. Quickly after taking on because the president of the BCB final month, you mentioned that the Board wants to search out somebody higher than Chandika Hathurusinghe as Bangladesh coach. Has that stance modified after the group’s historic Check sequence win towards Pakistan?
A: We’re closing in on one other essential sequence towards India, and now the group ought to stay stress free and play their pure sport. However let me make it clear that I’ve not modified my stance and I don’t wish to assess anybody going by a specific sequence.
For me, it’s about taking a look at somebody’s efficiency throughout his tenure. Chandika has been with the group for some time, and there have been fairly a couple of unsuccessful campaigns – together with abysmal performances within the ODI and T20 World Cups. We are going to assess his tenure and it’s not nearly teaching, there are different parameters as effectively. We have to see the group atmosphere, take a look at his behaviour with senior and junior gamers after which decide. However this isn’t the fitting time. We are going to do the evaluation and take a name on his future earlier than our dwelling season begins.
Q. Yesterday, you had a gathering with the senior cricketers forward of the India tour. Curiously, even Tamim Iqbal was a part of that assembly. Will we see Iqbal again into the system? If sure, in what capability?
A: Tamim must determine whether or not he desires to proceed as a participant or he desires to take up a special function. He has performed a lot for Bangladesh cricket, and it will be fantastic to get him concerned within the BCB. If he decides to retire, then as the pinnacle of the Board, I wish to see him in a brand new function in order that he may give it again to the sport. Together with his huge expertise, Tamim will be capable of assist our cricket develop.
Tamim had come to satisfy me yesterday, and we mentioned with all of the gamers concerning the highway forward when it comes to home cricket. I’m going again a great distance with all these gamers, and since most of them made their worldwide debut throughout my tenure because the chairman of the choice committee, I’m near all of them. So, it was a fruitful dialogue. I’ve informed Tamim that he’s in that section of life the place he must decide about his future. If he’s match, then why not!
But when he doesn’t wish to proceed as a participant, I’ll undoubtedly ask him to work for the betterment and growth of cricket with the BCB.
Q. Through the years, the BCB has shared a rapport with the BCCI. Within the altering political situation, do you assume it’s additionally a problem so that you can keep that robust relationship with the Indian cricket board?
A: I had a fruitful dialogue with the officers of the BCCI in the course of the ACC assembly in Kuala Lumpur lately and secretary Jay Shah invited me for the primary Check in Chennai. Though I’ve some prior commitments, I’m attempting to see if I can go to Chennai for a few days to observe the sport and in addition meet the BCCI officers. Among the BCB administrators will likely be there in India, and we’re trying ahead to extra conversations with the BCCI.
I additionally had discussions with the highest officers of Pakistan and Sri Lanka cricket boards, and with so many worldwide occasions lined up over the subsequent few months, we hope to work collectively.
Q. Amid safety considerations forward of the second Check in Kanpur, following a risk by the Hindu Mahasabha to protest exterior the stadium towards the alleged violence towards Hindus in Bangladesh, have you ever spoken to the BCCI relating to the difficulty?
A: Sure, I spoke to Shah and he has assured me of offering the best safety to the group. Because it’s a bilateral sequence, it’s additionally simpler for the Boards to beef up safety as in comparison with a world occasion the place a number of groups are concerned. So, the BCCI has given us the peace of mind, and at this cut-off date, we’re pleased with the conversations we had with the Board officers. The group is flying out to Chennai in a few days and we aren’t planning to ship any further safety cowl from our finish.
Q. Bangladesh missed out on internet hosting the Girls’s T20 World Cup because of safety considerations. What’s the highway forward when it comes to internet hosting ICC occasions?
A: The key purpose behind shifting the event out of Bangladesh was as a result of journey ban imposed by the authorities. We nonetheless have the internet hosting rights and we will likely be internet hosting the event, collectively with the Emirates Cricket Board. The scenario was difficult within the nation, and issues had been past our management as there was additionally a journey ban from a couple of nations. So, we couldn’t do a lot. However hopefully, going ahead, there gained’t be any issues in internet hosting worldwide tournaments.
Q. You spoke about Tamim Iqbal and the way you’d need him to be a part of the BCB if he decides to hold up his boots. However there appears to be ambiguity over the way forward for Shakib Al Hasan, too. Have you ever spoken to him about future plans?
A: He’s presently that includes in county cricket for Surrey, so he had already taken permission from the Board even earlier than I took over because the president. Shakib is mature sufficient to take a name on his future and he’s nonetheless the most effective gamers on the planet, and similar to Tamim, he must determine the long run plan of action. I’m positive he’ll seek the advice of with us earlier than finalising something.
However for now, he has conveyed to us that he desires to play in all three codecs.
Q. Bangladesh is prone to bear a transition section over the subsequent couple of years as soon as the seniors transfer on. How do you intend to deal with this section?
A: Each group on the planet goes via such a section, however you probably have a pool of expertise, then issues must be tremendous. As soon as Muttiah Muralitharan or Shane Warne bowed out, their groups struggled, however finally, issues had been again in form. So, the onus is on us to supply high quality cricketers. Shakib is a particular participant, who’s a star all-rounder and it’s tough to search out another for him straight away. So, there will likely be some form of a battle as soon as this bunch of senior gamers retires, however we have to discover appropriate kids, who we are able to use as replacements.
The seniors are slowly phasing out and we don’t wish to push them to take any determination. So long as the participant can ship, age shouldn’t be the one issue. So, until the time he decides to play and may match into our scheme of issues, we will likely be completely happy to have his service.
Q. Over the previous couple of years, a few of the franchise leagues – together with the IPL – have struggled to cope with Bangladesh gamers as a result of BCB’s contradictory coverage of issuing No Objection Certificates to gamers. Whereas the gamers suffered because of this indecisiveness, the Board’s fame additionally took successful. How do you intend to handle this concern, going ahead?
A: We are going to attempt to iron out the problems and be sure that no one of many events suffers. All of us are conscious of the FTP now, and in addition there’s a selected window for the IPL, so if we plan correctly, we are able to simply keep away from any clashes. Prior to now, there have been cases when gamers needed to miss out on the IPL or different contracts as a result of Board’s indecisiveness. However I’ll undoubtedly handle this concern in order that we are able to keep away from such conditions.