BCB shortening touring party for cost-cutting

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will be sending fewer personnel to the West Indies as a cost-cutting measure. The Daily Star learned that plans are for a few support staff to be excluded for the tour along with a selector and a pace bowler from the squad.

According to sources, the West Indies cricket board will provide throwers and medical support along with help regarding media communications to the BCB. However, after a long time the team would be without any selectors during a tour. Chief selector Minhazul Abedin was supposed to go with the team but will not be travelling now.

It was learned that paceman Hasan Mahmud, who was likely to be included as replacement for injured Shohidul Islam, will not be travelling with the squad. Since the question is about cost-cutting, the board has not decided which squads will be shortened if further cost-cutting measures are implemented.

Following the board meeting on Thursday, BCB president Nazmul Hassan hinted that players from the West Indies touring party may be excluded due to cost-cutting measures.

"What we are seeing is the cost increased a lot and it is not only in Bangladesh but elsewhere as well. Suppose earlier the plane fare was BDT 4 to 5 lakh and now it went up to BDT 10 to 11 Lakhs. Earlier the hotel fare was USD 250 now it went up to USD 400 to 500.

"So we have decided that those who are not required will not be travelling with the team and it [cost-cutting] will start from Windies tour. It means that members from our announced squad might be chopped off but that is not final yet.

"Along with that we have asked every department that the budget should not increase from the previous year. We wanted to do a lot of things but we decided to postpone everything for 3 to 4 months apart from what is urgent," the BCB president said.

In pandemic times, the BCB had been sending extra players and support staff as precaution but as cost-cutting has become an issue, the BCB are taking measures accordingly.