THE cricketing community has been abuzz with the news that the BCB (Bangladesh Cricket Board) has opted to back a radical proposal of three biggest ICC Member countries-India, Australia and England which will require Bangladesh Cricket team to be relegated to ICC Trophy status from its current Test Status. It has angered the country’s younger generation and they are making noisy protest. They held a human chain at Shahbagh in the city center on Saturday condemning the surrender of BCB to that move and we stand unequivocally with them. As it appears, India is the main mobilizer of the proposal for the three cricket wealthiest nations which generate the maximum revenue in the field and now want to bring change to Test cricket to maximize their revenue. So they have targeted Bangladesh Cricket for, among others, small amount of revenue it generates during Test matches played in the country mainly from insufficient advertisements. What comes as a big surprise is that within few hours of adopting the resolution by Board of Cricket Control, India (BCCI) why BCB lent its total support to the Indian proposal at a hastily called meeting by 20:3 votes agreeing to shelve its own Test Status. The proposal will be tabled now for consideration at ICC Board meeting in Dubai on January 28 and 29. Out of ten Test Cricket nations, the proposal would require 8 votes to be adopted, which may not be possible so quick. South Africa and Sri Lanka have already urged the ICC Board to defer the proposal. But India has threatened to withdraw from major global matches unless the proposal is passed to establish the three’s tight control over revenue by essentially relegating Bangladesh to trophy grade and to play International Cups at least upto 2019 with 35 cricket associate nations like Netherlands, Ireland or Afghanistan to become eligible for Test Status again. As we know, Bangladesh won the Test Status in the year 2000 with hard work and dedication and it never looked back while charting its way to World Cricket. Meanwhile Bangladesh cricket produced global all rounder and also the youngest century hitter, among so many other outstanding performances to enrich global cricket and bring fame to the nation. But it appears that money has become the major denominator of global Test cricket now sacrificing its identity of the gentlemen game. Moreover many tend to believe that our Test Status may have become victim of a conspiracy and somebody’s political target. But the biggest surprise is why BCB leaders have decided to surrender the nation’s glory instead of standing like a rock to give a tough fight against such move. As we know, BCB has taken a political decision to toe the Indian line under the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. But we strongly oppose such submissive attitude of our sports organizers and ask them to defend the nation’s right or quit. Politics must not dominate sports.
