Raisuddin Ahmed :
As a cricket player and organizer, I have been following the career of Sakib al Hassan closely ever since he faired in the under-15 Bangladesh Cricket Team in 2001. His performance for the under 15 team earned him a place in the under 19 team and eventually he was picked up for the national side in the year 2006. In consideration of his performance he became the main stay of the Bangladesh side and as he progressed in experience and tact he became number one world cricket player which position he could not hold for long for his own follies and bad manners.
Ever since he came to the limelight in the arena of cricket he has been a case of indiscipline. The management of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) because of his talent and utility for the team and popularity at home and abroad did not or could not take any strong punitive action against him.
This inaction was due mainly to lack of professionalism in BCB where members, mostly had little or no cricketing back ground, either as players or administrators.
The attitude of wrong doing and indiscipline in Sakib has thus blown out of proportion because of the failure the management of the Board. This had a negative impact on other players in the team and they, also at times, crossed the don’ts.
Sakib was made captain of the Bangladesh Team prematurely and this made him pompous and swollen headed so much so that he misbehaved with important officials of the Board during Bangladesh’s Zimbabwe tour. Due to this he lost his captainship. Again, he had the audacity of making obscene gestures in front of the camera crew which was telecast throughout the cricketing world during the last visit of Sri Lanka Cricket Team in Bangladesh.
This act was so despicable and devoid of civility that it created an uproar at home and abroad and the Board could not but take action against Sakib and he was suspended for 3 matches and fined Tk. 3,00,000/-. He did not, however, take these punishments seriously.
He again misbehaved with the new head coach of BCB, Chandika Hathurasinghe as he advised Sakib to cut short his Caribbean Premier League (CPL) commitment and return home before 31st July for the Cricket Coaching Camp which was going to be organized in Dhaka for the West Indies tour of Bangladesh Cricket Team. Ignoring the request, he left for Caribbean without any permission from the Board. The Board became infuriated for his glaring disrespect and it called Sakib back home after he had reached London on way to Barbados for participating in CPL.
In this connection, Sakib claimed that he had verbal permission from the Chairman, Cricket Operation Committee, Akram Khan, a past Captain but the Board felt that Sakib should have obtained written permission before his departure.
Sakib has been punished for his un-authorized departure and the Board in its last meeting held on July 7 handed him 6 months suspension which means he will miss West Indies tour and the home series against Zimbabwe.
BCB also decided that he will not be given ‘no objection certificate’ to play in any kind of tournament overseas for 18 months.
This, in other way means, that he will miss IPL, Big Bash and CPL tournaments organized by BCCI, Australian and West Indies Cricket Board respectively.
It is also relevant here to say that the Board, in all fairness, should have inquired into the matter as to under what circumstances the Chairman Cricket Operation Committee gave verbal permission to Sakib al Hassan to play in the CPL in face of the incoming West Indies tour.
The Chairman, Operation Committee, it appears, is more interested in contracts related to cricket rather than cricket itself as he was involved, it is said, in obtaining contact for his family concerns for supply of generators to ensure uninterrupted power supply during the last T20 World Cap held at the Zahur Ahmed Stadium, Chittagong.
In two of the matches the stadium plunged into darkness causing frequent interruption of the matches due to malfunctioning of the generators. This drew criticism at home and abroad and the ICC was very critical about the matter.
In all fairness the Board should have taken action for this wrong doing of the Chairman, Cricket Operation Committee, too.
Question has been raised by many regarding the process of taking action against Sakib, by-passing the Disciplinary Committee of the Board. In all fairness the matter should have been referred to Disciplinary Committee and punishment should have been imposed on the basis of the Committee’s recommendation.
It is now widely known that Sakib has made an appeal to the Board for review of his punishment already award to him. While talking to the press the President, BCB stated that he is impressed by Sakib’s attitude over the last few days and he is impressed with the well written letter which was full of apology and promise for good behavior in future.
It appears that BCB Chairman Nazmul Hassan Papan has softened his attitude towards Sakib. Now the question that is bugging the cricket lovers mind is why action was taken without considering the pros and cons of the case which has created grounds for review.
The authority should remember that no one is indispensible. Cavin Petersen, one of the best players of England has been dropped from all 3 versions of England Cricket Team because he was indisciplined. Previously, he (Petersen) was stripped of the captainship for indiscipline.
Sakib has to bear in mind that BCB has spent millions of taka to nurture and train him to refine his talent to come to the present stage. He should bear in mind that humbleness is the symbol of greatness and insolence is audacity.
