Home ›› 21 Jul 2022 ›› Sport
Bangladesh Cricket Board will finally introduce seven regional cricket associations as per their latest constitution amendment on Tuesday during the Annual General Meeting.
Many grassroots sports organisers see this as a new hope, while some are fearing that it could be just another bureaucratic body where some people will get new chairs.
The BCB constitution defines regional cricket associations as bodies to run cricket in the different administrative divisions of Bangladesh. It states the BCB should ensure cricket is run across the country through the regional and district sports associations.
The DSAs are formed and run by the government in all 64 districts. But the regional cricket bodies haven’t been formed despite being in the works for nearly two decades and being included in the board’s constitution since 2012. Nazmul had the RCA as his mandate since he first became BCB president in 2013.
BCB, on Tuesday, amended its constitution to implement the much-talked-about Regional Cricket Associations based on the National Cricket League teams.
Forhad Qureshi, secretary of the Sylhet divisional cricket committee, told The Business Post that the RCA will unlock new opportunities.
“Now, the entire cricket operations of the division will come under the regional cricket association. The BCB will provide the money to host leagues and other age-level tournaments. Earlier it was the District Sports Authority that was responsible for organising the tournaments. In many districts, there has not been any cricket league for years. This scenario will change when RCA will be active,” he said.
Sirajuddin Md Alamgir, general secretary of the Chattogram divisional Sports Association and a BCB councillor, said, “The RCA amendment act will make the sports organisers outside Dhaka more active. The directors who come from divisions don’t really get to do anything for the divisions when they come to the central. Now as the regional cricket associations will be responsible for holding the leagues, tournaments, and age-group cricket in their region.”
Each RCA will have its constitution. Initially, an ad-hoc committee will run the RCA. Within a year, there must be an elected body to carry on. According to the area of the division, the number of members in the RCA will vary from 11 to 17.
The RCAs will not be fully autonomous. BCB will employ a financial officer in each RCA to oversee the spending. As BCB is funding the RCA, the regional authority will be accountable to the central body for organising cricket tournaments in due time.
Rajin Saleh, former captain and now a coach, told The Business Post that he is unclear about the functions of the RCA but believes it will finally help local cricketers.
“I heard something new has been approved in the AGM, but not sure when and how it will function. But if BCB is giving a more watchful eye on the grassroots that is good news. I think local cricketers will benefit from it. They will have more scope to play, train and earn,” he said.
Rajin played first-class cricket for Sylhet for a long time and also played Tests for Bangladesh. He feels the new move can make the domestic first-class competition more competitive.
“If regional cricket associations function like the way we see in India or England, I think that will improve our first-class cricket. If local organisers find local talents and local selectors give them a chance, it will create good competition,” added Rajin.
Former cricketer turned coach Aftab Ahmed feels it is more important to place the right person in the right place rather than just forming committees.
“Nothing will significantly change if the right persons don’t get the right chair. Many committees can be formed, but if the members of the committees are not willing to do what’s needed and are just eager to hold on to a position, then nothing will work,” said Aftab.
The former batsman also said it can’t change the standard of first-class cricket.
“It is not about the committee. The wickets in Cox’s Bazar or BKSP are no good for first-class cricket. Batsmen will score plenty of runs there because there is nothing for the bowlers. The first-class matches should be played in Rajshahi and Bogra, where bowlers can create threats. We must allow foreign fast bowlers in the NCL like we allow foreign players in BPL or DPL. We must do what has to be done, not table talks,” said Aftab.
Former captain Khaled Mashud, who contested in the BCB board of directors’ election from the Rajshahi division in 2021, also echoed Aftab’s words.
“Yes, the new amendment gives us a scope to have new dreams but in Bangladesh, everybody can dream. You have to put the right person in the right place. If everything is done with the right intention, things will be good. But if these associations are formed just to give chairs to near and dear ones, then nothing will happen,” Mashud told The Business Post.
