Selection revamp causes a storm

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) working committee's proposal to revamp the selection panel has created a chaotic scenario. After coming to know about the new proposal for the selection committee, chief selector Faruque Ahmed did not hesitate to say on Friday morning that he would resign if the new proposal is passed. Under the proposal, the current three-member committee comprising former national cricketers Faruque, Habibul Bashar and Minhajul Abedin will be expanded to seven members.

The working committee members held a meeting last night with the three selectors as a result of the chief selector's reaction to the proposal. After the meeting Faruque stood firm on his decision to quit if the recommendations were adopted, and added: “We expressed our opinion at the meeting about what we believe is best for Bangladesh cricket. Let us see what happens.”

“They told us that what has come out in the media is perhaps not the complete picture. They have expressed their opinions and we have expressed ours, let's see what happens and depending on that I will take my decision,” said Minhajul. 

Bashar, speaking before the meeting, wanted to work under the new system to see how it works ultimately.

“I think if this recommendation is passed it will bring to an end a good system of selection that we have been following for a long time. If this new system is adopted by the board, I won't stay,” Faruque responded earlier yesterday to the working committee's recommendation of expanding the panel to include four selectors, the national team's head coach and manager, and the chairman of the BCB cricket operations committee.

“It's not all about any individual but the current system is working nicely. If the board has any complaints and feels that the selection committee fails to do their job efficiently then they can dissolve it or take any kind of action. I cannot understand why suddenly we are going to break a good system,” continued Faruque while talking to the Daily Star over phone yesterday morning.

“You have to understand clearly that a healthy debate always help your cause but don't mix the debate with the words controversy, lack of understanding, lack of coordination,” he said.

When asked, Bashar said: “I have to know first what actually is going to happen. But the freedom is very important for a selection committee. Anyway, even if the new system is adopted I want to see how it works.”

A BCB high-up on condition of anonymity however said that this situation has arisen because of the selectors as they blamed each other to the board. “It is the selectors who blamed their colleague for not watching matches outside Dhaka. There were also many other issues where they had blamed each other while the coach expressed disappointment on some selections previously. So these were the issues for which the board thought that it would be better if the selection panel is revamped.”

A selector, on condition of anonymity, dismissed all the rumours. “It is often argued that if the coach selects the final team, what's wrong if he takes part during the main selection process. My question is then why not also our board president who has the final say. Okay, if even I accept all the blame my question is why there is need to include the team manager. If you can go deep you will get the real answer and motive behind the change and you can also understand why someone like Shipon's [age-group selector Sajjad Ahmed's] name is proposed for the senior selection panel.”