Bangladesh Cricket Board finance committee chairman Israfil Khasru has stressed the importance of bringing stability to Bangladesh cricket ahead of the upcoming BCB election.
Khasru said the board’s primary responsibility is to support cricketers and create the right environment for them to succeed. He believes strong policies and long term planning are necessary for the continued growth of the game.
“It is difficult to say whether stability is coming or not, but it is needed. The cricket board’s job is actually very simple. It has to provide players with the facilities they need. It has to build the infrastructure and provide support. If this policy remains in place, then the cricket board will become the people’s cricket board. At the end of the day, the cricket board does not belong to any group. Bangladesh cricket belongs to the people. Everyone loves cricket. It is in our DNA.”
Khasru made the remarks while speaking on the BCB’s Charka Chokka podcast.
The BCB is currently being run by an 11 member ad hoc committee led by Tamim Iqbal. The board election is scheduled for June 7. A new board will be formed after elected directors take office.
Khasru said Bangladesh cricket still needs significant improvements in infrastructure. He pointed to the lack of training facilities, academies and regular competitions in different parts of the country.
“Yes, stability is needed and there should be policies. Cricketers should have proper facilities and infrastructure. Our journey has been very long, but have we improved our training facilities accordingly? No, we have not. So we want to accept that and move forward. We need better infrastructure and academies. At the same time, cricket must be played regularly. In many places, leagues have not been held for years. If matches are not played, where will players come from? Where will the pipeline come from? Cricket must be played. Divisional cricket and league competitions must continue. For that, grounds are also needed. One of the BCB’s major responsibilities is to improve grounds and facilities so that cricket can be played. All of these things are connected.”
The finance committee chief also discussed the issue of outstanding Bangladesh Premier League payments. He said the current administration took steps to clear unpaid dues after taking charge.
“When we arrived, there were many outstanding payments in the BPL. We took action ourselves and tried to clear them because the players must be paid. There is no way to move Bangladesh cricket forward without the players. They must receive what they deserve and what they need.”
Khasru added that players perform better when they receive proper support from the board and do not have to worry about issues outside the field.
“When players see that the board is supporting them, they become more motivated. They can focus on performing because they know they are receiving full support. They do not have to worry about anything else. Our job is to provide what they need. If there is any problem, they should come and tell us. We should also understand what they need, identify the problems and try to solve them.”
