Bangladesh Test captain Mushfiqur Rahim (L) picks up few balls as team-mates look on during the team’s conditioning camp for the forthcoming Australia series at Mirpur on Monday. — New Age photo
The Cricket Welfare Association of Bangladesh, the lone representative body of professional cricketers in Bangladesh, which was often criticised for taking a blind eye on many issues related to players’ interest, finally broke its silence to condemn a director of the Bangladesh Cricket Board.
In a statement on Monday, CWAB protested at the derogatory remarks of BCB director MA Awal Chowdhury against national Test skipper Mushfiqur Rahim, who captained his Bangladesh Premier League franchise Barisal Bulls.
In a statement at a private television channel, Awal, also the chairman of BCB’s women’s wing, labelled Mushfiq as insincere, an allegation that left the wicketkeeper-batsman in tears.
Mushfiq, flanked by BCB chief executive officer Nizamuddin Chowdhury and BPL governing council secretary Ismail Haider, said the allegation was very embarrassing for him.
In a press statement issued by CWAB secretary Debabrata Pal, the players’ body said this allegation against a senior player of the country was unexpected from a Board director.
‘We strongly protest against the comments made by Awal Chowdhury at a private television regarding Test skipper Mushfiqur Rahim. These derogatory remarks were not expected from a board director,’ it said.
CWAB also thanked BPL governing council for its prompt protest and promise of action.
CWAB itself was criticised for some corner for its silence on many issues, including recent BCB ban on some players and official in a lower-tier league for protesting in a legitimate way.
The BCB banned second division bowler Sujon Mahmud and Tasnim Hasan for 10 years as they conceded many runs from wides and no-ball protesting against biased umpiring against their respective club.
Debabrata, himself a BCB match-referee, said they were working to make CWAB a more effective body now.
‘We are planning to hold our AGM [Annual General Meeting] soon to make our organisation more effective,’ he said.
It should be mentioned that CWAB president Naimur Rahman himself is BCB director but due to conflict of interest, he was hardly seen taking any position on behalf of players.
It is often referred as a briefcase organisation of secretary Debabrata, though it represented Bangladeshi players on a global platform as a member of the Federation of International Cricketers Associations.
CWAB made no meaningful statement when a group of players alleged last year that they were not paid by their respective Dhaka Premier League clubs.
Debabrata, however, claimed that they had bargained with BCB when it took an initiative of scrapping the contracts of first-class players this year and some progress was made in this regard.
Recently all Australian national team players decided not to extend their contract with Australian Cricket Board, which decided not to give domestic players the share of its profit.
Currently the Australian cricket is at a limbo as both the players’ association and board is firm with their stands.
Source: New Age
