Cricket boards typically have their eyes on the prize of success. However, with respect to the current plans of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), it appears they are dealing with damage control. With the news that Bangladesh would be replaced by Scotland in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup due to safety reasons, the impact was instantaneous and obvious: Mirpur was silent, schedules were canceled, and a national team designed for global exposure had no place to play.
Silence at Mirpur Told the Real Story
The most notable visual image after Bangladesh’s World Cup elimination, however, wasn’t a press release; it was silence. There were no training camps scheduled, there were no scheduled home games, and there was no apparent pathway to move forward. In a country where congested calendars are generally an issue with respect to the country’s cricket schedule, the sudden emptiness of the sport exposed just how much the sport relies upon participation in international competitions. Initially, the BCB considered advancing the start date for the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) as a possible alternative to filling the void left by the absence of international competition; however, election issues, logistical issues, and security clearance issues quickly eliminated that possibility.
Compensation Is About More Than Money
The Secretary of Bangladesh’s Youth & Sport Ministry, Mahbub-Ul-Alam, has said that talks are underway regarding compensation for players; it appears, however, that a harsh reality exists here: players do not merely lose pride when international tournaments fail to materialize, but also lose income. A match fee for an ICC T20 World Cup would likely exceed the total amount paid in match fees by most domestic cricket leagues throughout the course of one season.
The BCB (Bangladesh Cricket Board) is attempting to transform compensation into a competitive format through a proposed alternative tournament comprised of T20 Squad members and other highly-regarded players. This will be good PR and is smart psychologically as well; players desire far more than simply receiving checks; they need relevance, performance/selection leverage.
Three Teams, One Pressure Cooker
A three-team tournament in Mirpur may seem small in scale, but it may also prove a very difficult competition. The three-team format means that there are repeat match-ups with opposing teams, which can expose a team’s weaknesses and leave little opportunity for hiding, even from fringe players. Domestic one-day cricket has historically been unable to create the same type of pressure as international competitions, so this is likely an accidental solution to that problem.
If set up properly (i.e., with balanced squads, competitive pitches, etc., and good broadcasting), then this competition could provide some of the same qualities as the type of internal competitions that Australia and India have used to maintain high standards. If set up improperly, then it will likely turn into expensive net practice.
Fitness Tests Signal Intent, Not Panic
The Beep Test scheduled for Feb 1, including those that may be conducted at Mirpur are not simply an administrative necessity. Instead, these represent a quiet reminder from the BCB to its players that while the World Cup has vanished, the equations of selection have not been halted.
Bangladesh’s upcoming tasks (ODI series vs Pakistan in March and Test series in May) require conditioning, not sympathy. It seems as though the BCB intends to ensure that the emotional loss felt by being knocked out of contention for the World Cup does not translate into a lack of conditioning.
Election Timing Complicates Everything
Politics is driving the shadow factor in this instance, as with national elections coming up, the time for long-term planning (like the BCL) has been put on hold. A short, self-contained format such as T20 will be perceived by administrators to be less risky than a long-term event. That this tournament is apparently to be organized outside of the regular tournament committee is indicative of the need for speed, or at least, the apparent need for it, and indicates that there may be some degree of internal improvisation involved.
Stay updated on the latest cricket news and exciting updates at Six6slive. Dive into our in-depth articles and analyses to connect with the action today!