Bangladesh Cricket Board unlikely to continue with the current selection panel
It is understood that the BCB is pondering a complete overhaul of the current selection panel when they meet on the 27th. However, Bangladesh chief selector Minhajul Abedin has promised better efforts in developing Bangladeshâs main and âAâ team if given an extension to his tenure in the role.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board is unlikely to continue with the current selection panel that includes Abedin and former captain, Habibul Bashar, who were contracted till June 2019. According to BCB sources, the directors have decided not to renew the contracts of Abedin and Bashar. Unless something drastic happens before the next meeting, scheduled on July 27, the decision will remain unchanged.
Abedin understands that the boardâs decision is against his continuation. While offering to work harder if the decision changes, Abedin also pointed out his efforts in the last three years.
"I have been in the panel for three years. I think I have done quite well. I have worked with the HP team, they are quite good and also worked with the A team. They play lots of matches. National team has also played good enough. If you look at the last year's performance we have won 52% of the matches. It's a big achievement. We have improved our ranking. We have done well in the longer version too. If I am given another opportunity of course I will do something better. It's a board decision (whether they will continue with me) it depends on them. If I continue of course I will try to do well," Abedin said, reported Cricbuzz.
Abedin was expected to travel to Sri Lanka for the three-match ODI series initially. However, the board decided not to send in their selector, citing displeasure in his functioning. The performance of the selection panel came into focus after the âAâ side performed poorly in the ongoing series against Afghanistan A.
However, Abedin noted that it wouldnât be fair to judge the performance of the A side from the on-going series alone. Considering that they had to make a lot of changes just to prepare the BCB XI, he seems to have a reasonable argument.
"Actually we had to prepare our National team, BCB XI and A team. We had to divide A team in two parts because one of our team had to go to Bangalore to play four-day matches. We thought that the players who play better in the longer format are sent to Bangalore because that tournament is a very strong tournament. And we lost abysmally in that tournament four years ago," Abedin said.
Despite losing the four-day series, and trailing 0-2 in the 50-over contest, the former cricketer drew several positives from the series.
âThey have played two matches and one match is going on today. They are playing well in that regard. The team is in good position today. We got some feedback from there which will help us in the future. It is difficult to prepare a strong side in this time as so many tournaments have come at once. With U-19 sides, 65 players are playing now for the last three weeks. Every player of the A team and the U-19 team are involved. We had to maintain the balance of every team,â he added.