THE back and forth between the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) finally hit a dead end as the world body cracked its whip and booted out Bangladesh team from next month’s World Twenty20 Championships scheduled in India. They have been replaced by Scotland in the marquee event even as Pakistan have resorted to another nonsense by threatening to pull out. Whether Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will take the disastrous path is anybody’s guess but Bangladesh have definitely shot themselves in the foot. Bangladesh have walked a dangerous path with this adamant stand. They brought upon themselves the ignominy of getting kicked out from the ICC tournament and also pitted them against a dicey future in international cricket.

 

The security concerns put forward by BCB were a childish excuse. An ICC team had made a security assessment in India and found nothing threatening Bangladesh players. Yet, stung by the removal of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL) by the Indian Cricket Board, Bangladesh chose to remain miffed. They should have realised the futility of it all when ICC members rejected their proposal with an overwhelming majority. Only Pakistan voted in favour of Bangladesh for obvious reasons. The matter could have ended at this point but BCB was forced to toe the anti-India interim government’s line and players will be the ultimate sufferers. Political tensions over killing of Hindu minority people in Bangladesh have seen Indo-Bangla relations take a nosedive. Under Mr. Mohammad Yunus the interim government has drifted away from India and is now guided by Pakistan and China to raise a new front against New Delhi. It has led to internal problems as radical elements in Bangladesh are having a free run under the patronage of Mr. Yunus. At present the anti-India feeling is at its peak among the ruling party.

 

In this political and diplomatic battle, Bangladesh’s cricketers have been subjected to an uncertain financial future. The hard stand can virtually end Bangladesh cricketers’ participation in the cash-rich IPL. Unlike Pakistan, Desh players were regulars with IPL teams with some of them earning handsome contracts. Rahman, too, had been picked by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a good sum. It was a dicey political situation which led to his removal from the league. The players understand the decision taken by the BCCI. Even the BCB knows the pulls and pressures of a fragile political situation influencing sporting decisions. Yet, it had to go with government and put the future of its cricket in jeopardy. Bangladesh’s absence equals zero financial returns for the BCB and players. The board stands to lose between 20–25 million dollars in annual ICC revenue, along with a participation fee of around 500,000, dollars. The disastrous decision is not about the T20 World Cup, Bangladesh will feel its repercussions on the global stage soon.