Desperate Measures

The Bangladesh Cricket Board might be busy preparing for an emergency meeting tomorrow to sort out the crisis...

The Bangladesh Cricket Board BCB might be busy preparing for an emergency meeting tomorrow to sort out the crisis in the wake of the pile of resignations they received from their Indian Cricket League-bound players, but all their efforts may just go waste with the players firm on their decisions.

Late on Monday night, four more Bangladesh players with offers from the rebel league were getting ready to fly to New Delhi, where ICL was holding its season-opening press conference. Habibul Bashar, Dhiman Ghosh, Alok Kapali and Shariar Nafees will represent the soon-to-be-launched Bangladesh-based ICL team 8212; the Dhaka Warriors 8212; that happens to be a mix of contracted international players, second stringers and former internationals of repute. It is learnt that, besides the four, other players expected to be part of the team are Aftab Ahmed, Mosharraf Hossain, Farhad Reza, Nazim Uddin, Mohammad Rafique and Tapash Baishya.

Confirming his visit to India, 25-year-old Kapali told The Indian Express that there was no looking back now. 8220;The offer was quite lucrative; it was tough to say no. Despite my good show, Bangladesh cricket hasn8217;t offered me a central contract. I make just about 1000 per year and the amount I will get here is much higher. We all have decided and now nothing will change,8221; he said. Though the players are tight-lipped about the amount they will get, it is reported that most of the cricketers will be getting 200,000 each for a three-year period.

Not just for Kapali, this amount is tempting even for those who have a central contract with the Bangladesh board, which ensures around 36000 per year for a top cricketer. Former skipper Bashar happens to be one of them and he has made it clear that the decision to switch to ICL was tough, but there were several reasons for him to quit Bangladesh cricket. 8220;It was a tough decision. I shed a lot of tears while deciding. But I wasn8217;t receiving support from anyone. Even the coach8217;s Jamie Siddon attitude was discouraging and I was in the middle of a lot of uncertainty,8221; the 36-year-old told The Daily Star.

Kapali, who scored a ton against India in the Asia Cup last month, too blamed the BCB for his joining ICL. 8220;I have played three successive series and performed well with both bat and ball. But still there is no contract coming my way,8221; he said. In fact, Kapali says he was approached by present skipper Mohammad Ashraful to join the ICL. 8220;I said 8216;if you join, I will also join8217;. Later he dropped out but I stayed on,8221; he said.

Among those who are expected to sign up, there are two interesting names. Though Baishya and Rafique aren8217;t part of the present national side, they are big names in Bangladesh cricket. Baishya, 25, was part of Bangladesh8217;s 2007 World Cup squad and, along with Mashrafe Mortaza, was their pace spearhead. As for Rafique, he happens to be Bangladesh8217;s biggest star. Though retired, the all-rounder enjoys a big fan following because of his big hitting and tight left-arm spin back home.

Ask Kapali if this exodus to India will set Bangladesh cricket back by several years and he answered in negative. 8220;I think it will be the other way round. After this, the Board will wake up to the changing scene in world cricket and the players will also be treated well. They will certainly get more money now,8221; he says.