BCB chief 'had information India tour would be disrupted'

A series of events, including the detention of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan, crickerters' strike to press home an 11-point-demand and Shakib Al Hasan's contract with a telecom company, had taken place over the last few days. In an interview with Prothom Alo, BCB president Nazmul Hassan talked about the present condition of the Bangladesh cricket.

Prothom Alo: How do you assess the present situation?
Nazmul Hassan: The players staged a strike as soon as board director Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan was detained. I can't yet believe this! I talk to them every day. Is it possible to stop playing all on a sudden? I think it was unjust of me to have met their demands. I should have in no condition done this. We should have said that we won't sit with you unless you withdraw your strike and seek the board's permission. I've realised this after talking to several ICC member countries. But you (media) left us in such a position that we had no option.

PA: The players' questions were logical and the India tour fell into uncertainty, too ...
NH: You've seen nothing of that tour yet. Wait and see. I've been told there's conspiracy behind this ...You know me for such a long time, did I ever lie or have provided wrong information? As I am saying this, there must be something there. I had information that the India tour would be disrupted.

PA: Does someone want to disrupt it?
NH: Certainly. We know the First Class cricketers were glad that we had met the players' demands. Because, the game will go on and they want to play, but do the agitating players wish the same? Tamim told me first that he didn't want to play the last Test match with India. His child was due at that time. As the meeting with the players was just over, Tamim went to our room and said, "I won't go (to India)." I said, "What does that mean? You said earlier that you will spare the last match only. Why do you want to skip the tour?" Still he said that he won't go. If all of them say that they will not go at the eleventh hour, how does that feel?

PA: Did anyone else say they won't be going?
NH: I'm sure that they won't go and will declare that at the eleventh hour, when there's no scope to do anything.

PA: Who can do that?
NH: I've no idea. I have asked Shakib to come today (Sunday). Let's see what he says. There might be many more players. I don't know who they are, but I was tipped off that they would not go. The situation has now veered. Perhaps they didn't think that everything would be over so soon. I'm not informed on this from a trusted source. Even so, if they say they won't go on 30 October, what will I do then? I have to change the whole combination and where will I find my captain then! Tell me, what will I do with these players.

PA: Shakib's advertisement deal has also created some complications ...
NH: We had told the players that they could not sign a deal with any telcos, because we wanted them (telcos) to take part in the bidding next year. How can he do this? Should I let them do whatever they want? You look at the timing. The sponsorship auction is in January. I will not get any telcos now. Even if they come they will not be willing to pay much. Who is being benefitted sabotaging us this way? A player is being benefitted personally, but what will happen to our team?

PA: Can the board ask Shakib to cancel the deal?
NH: He has been given the chance to defend himself. I want to listen to his explanation first.

PA: You said something about the wicket used during the Afghanistan Test ...
NH: Trust me we would have won against Afghanistan even if we had played our Under-19 team. How can we lose to them, that too on our own turf? Even the big teams cannot beat us here. All our plans were ruined. Who did it? And why? Looks like I have done a big mistake trying to find the answer. I wanted to know why we did not play on the pitch we had made.

Shakib said that it was a bad wicket. But the others said he chose the wicket himself. Everyone says it was his chosen wicket. Now if he has made the decision himself, why would he term it a bad wicket? I formed a committee and asked them to investigate.

Mushfiq was sent to open the innings but none of us knew about it. I hear he even said that he might have sent Mosaddek as well. The media says all the decisions come from the top. I have always been professional, all my life. Can't I want to know as the board president? They say why did I order an investigation being suggested by others. My question is - why did he choose the bad pitch?

PA: Did the committee find anything?
NH: I will soon get the report. But the problems started soon after the committee was formed. I am yet to reach a conclusion, but soon I will know the details. But I am not blaming anyone. I just want to know what caused the problems.

PA: If there was a conspiracy, do you think it was masterminded by someone inside or a outer force is involved here?
NH: You will get to know everything soon. This will never be kept a secret. There are a few people here who always try to provoke the players. I do not want to go into details. Why did he break such an important rule at such a crucial time? He is the captain and we all love him. We did not make him a captain for nothing. He gets the maximum respect from the BCB. The fans respect him, I respect him, even the prime minister respects him.

*This piece, originally appeared in print edition of Prothom Alo and has been rewritten here in English by Quamrul Hassan and Nusrat Nowrin.