Iftekhar Rahman Mithu spoke after the day’s training of Bangladesh cricketers at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. He said selectors will be present when matches take place outside Dhaka.
“When matches are held outside, selectors must also go there to observe. In the future, we will have scouts or selectors who can identify new players from different regions.”
Bangladesh players are now busy with a fitness camp. There are no international matches at the moment. The camp will continue until the series against New Zealand national cricket team.
In the last Bangladesh Premier League season, most matches were held in Sylhet. Only the final few games took place in Mirpur. The board now plans to host more matches outside Dhaka.
The opening ceremony of the last BPL was also held in Sylhet on a smaller scale. Sylhet has hosted several international matches in recent times. This is part of a wider plan led by BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul.
Mithu said the aim is to take cricket beyond Dhaka and spread it across the country.
“Our president Aminul Islam Bulbul wants to take cricket across the whole country instead of keeping it Dhaka-centric. That is why, for the first time, the BPL opening ceremony was held in Sylhet. The Women’s BPL is also being launched outside Dhaka. These steps show that we want to spread cricket beyond Dhaka.”
The BCB selection panel has also changed. Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu stepped down after his term ended. Habibul Bashar is now the chief selector.
Former players Nadif Chowdhury and Mohammad Naim have joined as assistant selectors. They will work with Haseebul Hossain, who is already in the role.
