BCB appoints ‘fact-finding’ committee to analyse Bangladesh’s performance in T20 World Cup 2021

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has appointed a ‘fact-finding’ committee to analyse Bangladesh’s performance in the T20 World Cup. The Tigers went into the mega event as ICC’s No.6 ranked T20I team, but had a horrible outing. After losing to Scotland in the Qualifiers, they defeated Oman and Papua New Guinea in a comprehensive manner to qualify for the Super 12.

However, Mahmudullah and Co. lost to Sri Lanka, West Indies, Australia, South Africa and England to return winless from the Super 12. Bangladesh had a chance to defeat the Lankans and the Caribbean team, but they failed to hold their nerve in the crunch moments.

The ‘fact-finding’ committee comprises of two members – Directors Jalal Yunus and Enayet Hossain. The BCB didn’t give the members a deadline, but asked them to complete the task at the earliest possible time.

Bangladesh are next scheduled to host Babar Azam’s Pakistan for a T20I and Test series, starting November 19 and the committee doesn’t wish to hamper the team’s preparations.

Bangladesh cricket in deep turmoil

“It is almost like a fact-finding (committee). We weren’t supposed to perform so poorly. We will speak to the players, team management and board officials who had travelled to the World Cup. We will even speak to members of the media. We will try to find out what exactly happened,” Jalal was quoted as saying in ESPNcricinfo.

“We will start our work from tomorrow but there’s no time frame for the committee. We don’t want to disturb the preparation for the Pakistan series [of three T20Is and two Tests in November-December]. We will refer to the coach’s report, but we will also speak to the manager and coach verbally,” he added.

Earlier, Najmul Hasan Papon, the BCB president, had a discussion with former skipper Mashrafe Mortaza and ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal. Mashrafe, who played for the Tigers back in March 2020, had lashed out at the board members and support staff for not being supportive towards the team.

After the Tigers went down against the Scots in Al Amerat, Mahmudullah and the BCB president were also engaged in a war of words. Hasan said that Bangladesh were not up to the mark after which Mahmudullah replied that players are humans, who can make mistakes.