Bangladesh: 'Akram Khan is no Azharuddin!' (30 April 1998)

April 30, 1998

'Akram Khan is no Azharuddin!'

Al-amin

Almost as an aberration of the old saying, success did not succeed in the case of national team captain Akram Khan. The portly Chittagonian has led at best an erratic national team for the last four years with a degree of aplomb that none of his predecessors even came close to.

Like a master charmer the mild-mannered cricketer won the hearts of all but the national selectors when he led his team from the front to lift the International Cricket Council trophy in Malaysia last year.

The selectors, who every now and then run into controversy by demonstrating a weird sense of wisdom, perhaps are still under the notion that the most successful Bangladeshi captain is yet to come of age to have a say in the selection. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) selectors possibly feel that it is too early to invite their 'obedient' boy to discuss the modus operandi of the team.

Although this is more than a convention in the established world of cricket to invite the captain ahead of any selection, the day is yet to come for the burly skipper to share a table with the five-man selection committee, chaired by Lutfur Rahman Makhan.

Akram is at the helm of affairs since he took over from Faruque Ahmed after the infamous Kenya ICC mission in 1994. Ever since the ruling body of cricket neither allowed a free-hand to the coach, what with their bitter experience with Mahinder Amarnath, nor did it feel the necessity to include the skipper in the selection procedure.

Although the Board never voiced their indignation in public after the Nairobi debacle, where Bangladesh failed to even make it to the second round, it was quite evident that the Mohinder episode, rightly or wrongly, led them to form a more closemouthed selection committee.

Ironically, Akram was named captain based on Mohinder's report on the Kenya tour, in which the former Indian Test cap had termed Akram as a fast learner.

"At this moment our captain does not carry that much weight (significance) which is worthwhile", said Shafiqul Haq Hira, a former national captain and a senior member of the selection committee while talking to this scribe at the BCB office on Monday.

" He is not Azharuddin. He (Akram) is still in the learning process", said Hira, who however clarified that it was his personnel opinion.

" We are five in the committee. Besides, Lipu (the manager of the team) and Gordon (the West Indian coach) also play their part before any selection", said Hira while giving details of the selection procedure. Replying to a query Hira said, "At this moment he (Akram) is doing all right as captain". But the former national wicketkeeper promptly added that he still has a long way to go.

When contacted, Akram however expressed another kind of mind. " It is unfortunate that I am not consulted. Since they are not considering me before any selection, it would be generous on their part to share the brunt after any debacle", said a visibly dejected Akram, who in his first assignment as captain inspired Bangladesh to finish second behind India A in the second SAARC Cricket tournament in Dhaka.

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