Waiting to be swamped or a genuine threat? (10 June 1999)

10 June 1999

Waiting to be swamped or a genuine threat?

Nizamuddin Ahmed

London, June 9: The impact that Bangladesh made on world cricket, thanks to their targeted Cup victory against Scotland and cream-topping at the expense of the galloping Pakistanis, seemed ill-defined till Simon Wilde's one-liner in The Sunday Times (June 6).

He warns crestfallen England thus: '... the competition from other nations is only going to stiffen. The likes of Bangladesh and Kenya will soon join Zimbabwe as genuine threats in future tournaments'.

This is obviously not the understanding of Gordon Greenidge, Bangladesh Cricket Board's Director of Coaching. Talking to Ivo Tennant of the same weekly Greenidge 'bares his soul' about Bangladesh's non-readiness to play Test cricket. Says the West Indian batting legend, 'It would be damaging for them to tour the leading Test nations, because they would be swamped'.

Goes on GG, perhaps in reference to his statement that Bangladesh were not ready for Test status: "There was a big outcry that I had snubbed Bangladeshis, but there were no lines of communication open with the cricket establishment."

Greenidge could shoulder some responsibility for cutting off that line. He knows only too well that it is often more effective to speak through the press. After Bangladesh's disastrous tour of England, Ireland and Scotland last year, Greenidge invited two reporters from The Daily Star one evening and talked freely on tape for hours. Greenidge's reflection on the Board, the team's performance, and the future of Bangladesh cricket was carried by the newspaper in a three-part serial, 'Gordon bares his soul'. Thereafter, however, Greenidge shunned even representatives of that newspaper with the platitudinous terse snub, 'No comment'.

The lines of communication with the Dhaka press was opened by Greenidge when he needed to put BCB on the defensive and, once his 'purpose' was accomplished, the media in Bangladesh to him was yesterday's newspaper. Who wants it anyway?

For some unknown reason, Greenidge shut himself off from the press in the country of his employment. It is not the failing of the Bangladeshi media that Greenidge does not respond to it. They have always tried to speak to him. But, once in England, he freely talked to English journalists. This is a snub, 'Sir' Greenidge, which no employee of Bangladesh can afford.

Think of it! David Lloyd is not talking to the English press or Bob Woolmer high-nosing a reporter from Johannesburg? Dare one speculates the consequence, but the press in Bangladesh has been very courteous and patient with BCB's first Director of Coaching.

It is not within my knowledge what poverty has to do with cricket. Or else, how has the West Indies been for decades one of world's most favourite and successful cricket team? For Greenidge bared to the English journalist, "It (Bangladesh) is a poor country and they feel under pressure." But, in reality, despite being not so rich, his West Indies brought every wealthy nation that played cricket to its knees.

There indeed seems to be lack of communication between the BCB and its director. Greenidge said to his English ear after the match against Pakistan, "I regret I did not complete my job in Bangladesh as I wanted to do." It would mean he was no more in employment. But, the BCB in Dhaka claimed that Greenidge has been removed as the World Cup coach for 'overstepping' and that he was still the Director of Coaching.

In the days of E-communication, this is quite regrettable.

If Greenidge ever agreed to talk to this correspondent, there would be two questions with which to start off the discussion:

1. Why did he not resign? The problem is Greenidge now 'insists he told the cricket board of his resignation last autumn (that would be around September-October in Bangladesh) and that he was asked to stay on until the end of the World Cup'.

2. Why would he not toe the official BCB line about seeking Test status? After all he was a paid employee. If he disagreed and it was demeaning for him to say what the BCB insisted on saying, he could easily have resigned.

Just as no Bangladeshi journalist could dig anything out from him against his will, no one could possibly compel him to stay on as the Director of Coaching if he did not so wish.

It is important for Greenidge to realise that the BCB handed him the letter telling him he was 'not needed anymore' before the Pakistan match, not while basking in the glory of an unlikely victory. BCB, seeking Test status for a cricket-crazy nation, risked a lot, including upsetting the ICC with a managerial decision that was bound to reek of controversy.

The question that need not be asked of Greenidge is his abhorrence for Bangla music. Unthinkable that Saudi Arabia's Brazilian coach would insist on the team to listen to some Latin American songs to cheer them up for a football World Cup match against France!

Believing firmly that vernacular music can appease ones melodic appetite; it has a positive effect on the spirit of a group of cricketers embarking on a patriotic mission. For a country born of its passion for a language, that has fought a war for the language, Greenidge was definitely wrong to bar Bangla music on tour. He was totally out of touch with the sentiment of his charge and those they represent. No Bangla music for a Bangalee! That shame even Sir Donald Bradman cannot afford!

Source :: The Daily Star