Bangladesh: BCB chief Saber simply dissatisfied (16 Jul 1998)

17 July 1998

Saber simply dissatisfied

Sports Reporter

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President and Deputy Minister for Shipping Saber Hossain Chowdhury has expressed his dissatisfaction on the performance of the national team.

The national cricketers are now on the last stage of their 45-day-long tour of British Isles.

Talking to The Daily Star at the Dhaka Stadium yesterday, the cricket supremo said "This is ridiculous. It is beyond my imagination how a team that won the ICC Trophy last year be crushed for 97 against Scotland."

"I think we have not improved after winning the Trophy. The standard has deteriorated and a lot of things still need to be reviewed," said Saber who formed a development and monitoring committee a few year's back. But it has hardly seen daylight.

"Our main goal during the tour was to prepare a probable team for the World Cup in England next year. But I can hardly even see eight players out of the present lot who are capable to represent the country for the big occasion," the BCB chief said referring to the state of the current side.

"The board is sending a 17-member team to Australia early next month for a 30-day conditioning and coaching programme at the Australian Cricket Academy in Adelaide from August 3. This is an additional programme we have taken as part of our preparation for the Commonwealth Games. I hope we will be able to inject at least six young cricketers in that party," said Saber.

Saber said that only a few players have performed up to the mark in the tour. "Faruque Ahmed and Azam Iqbal have impressed me most", said Saber. The BCB boss also praised Mohammad Rafique and Khaled Mahmud but expressed his dissatisfaction about his skipper Akram Khan and vice-captain Aminul Islam.

"They have showed potential but were never consistent," Saber added.

Replying to a query Saber blamed the team management for the random changes in the batting order during the tour.

"I think the time has come to evaluate the contribution of the team management", said Saber who pays the coach of the national team Gordon Greenidge more than Taka three lacks and manager Gazi Ashraf Taka 47,000 per month.

"I am totally fedup with the way things are going," said Saber.

Saber also revealed that the board is working out to sign a long term contract with famous Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee.

Source:: The Bangladesh Daily Star (https://www.dailystarnews.com)