No trust and not much of a process either

ICC's new Test Championship cycle begins for Bangladesh today with the first Test against Pakistan at Chattogram and it also introduces the beginning of a jam-packed Test schedule through to the end of 2022 for the Tigers.

However, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) are far from ready for the upcoming challenges, pegged down by imminent absences of star players alongside a dearth of players in the pipeline and an environment of distrust filtering down from the hierarchy through to the team management and then down to the players and support staff.

The recent World Cup debacle may have brought T20 credentials back in sharp focus but Tests remain the ultimate assessment of cricketing growth.

There was a time that this country as a whole clamoured for Test status but having failed to capitalise on established players' contributions, the pipeline of players in the format is running thin.

The Pakistan Tests will be a big challenge, but not the only one as consequent series featuring 12 Tests through to end of 2022 will ask a lot of team management and its plans.

Take the case of absentee seniors for instance. According to BCB sources, ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan remains unlikely for the upcoming tour of New Zealand while opener Tamim Iqbal's injury rule him out until the tour of Sri Lanka in May.

There are doubts among management over the seriousness of their injuries, which shows a lack of trust in the environment.

Mahmudullah Riyad's Test retirement put the BCB's plans in further stress ahead of a jam-packed schedule.

"We don't have enough players," a BCB higher-up said on conditions of anonymity. With so many assignments coming up, injury management will be an issue too.

When going into a series, the head coach's authority and direction is of utmost importance but sources also confirmed a serious lack of trust between seniors and the head coach.

A look at a training session can further confirm the scenario and sources confirm the BCB is looking for a high-profile coach to replace Russell Domingo.

"The players are the main stakeholders, and if they don't listen to the coach, we need solutions," another BCB higher-up said on conditions of anonymity.

Domingo, even as he is with the team, is not really part of the group at this point and it is likely that his contract of two years may be absolved with compensation.

Even as Khaled Mahmud's appointment as team director came haphazardly, the BCB wants to continue his tenure for a year but without due process, a lack of result can see his position questioned in near future.

Most importantly, the culmination of all the above factors, given a lack of trust and the absences of stalwarts, leads the BCB to think 'what else could go wrong?' as the new cycle commences.