They have been used to struggling ever since they achieved Test status, but for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), the future looks even bleaker. With its top players falling to the Indian Cricket League (ICL) bait, Dhaka’s cricketing circles sound gloomy.

“It’s disappointing. We knew that the situation was bad but we weren’t expecting this at all,” said BCB executive member Shafiqur Rahman, taking a few minutes break from the hectic round of talks he was having with players. “Discussions are still on. At this moment I can’t say much. We’re trying to speak to them,” he said.

Bangladesh recently returned from a poor tour of Australia, losing all three one-dayers and with players disappointed with the central contracts, trouble was lurking round the corner.

“We do understand that there were issues but nothing that couldn’t have been sorted out. These private leagues are luring cricketers with the kind of money that’s never been heard of and that’s appalling. The country has to come first,” Rahman said.

Hope floats

Earlier, Bangladesh’s media manager Rabid Imam said that the board was trying its best to reach an understanding with the players. However, for cricketers who are used to drawing pittance from their board, offers ranging between $200,000 to half a million are too tempting as of now.

Rahman insisted that the BCB too had spent a lot of money on these players as part of an investment for the future and this emerging trend would “hurt” Bangladesh cricket a lot.

... contd.