BCCI to 'wait and watch' the developments as Bangladesh players go on indefinite strike

While India has been squashing their opponents ruthlessly at home, all is not well with their neighbors. While Pakistan Cricket has been grappled with the unexpected 0-3 whitewash against Sri Lanka and the subsequent unceremonious sacking of skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed, on the eastern side, Bangladesh cricket is also facing tumultuous times.

The Asian Tigers are slated to tour big brothers India for a three-match T20I series and a two-match Test series next month, but the recent developments where Bangladesh Players- led by Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal, have gone on an indefinite strike has put the next months series in cold waters.

Tension had been brewing in Bangladesh Cricket ever since the BCB decided to make changes to the format of Bangladesh Premier League. Amidst all the changes that BCB made, one that drew the ire from the likes of Shakib and other senior players is the Board making it mandatory for every BPL team to field one leg-spinner and one fast bowler in their playing 11.

All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan had opined that the BCB must first look at providing basic amenities to the local players while also increasing the pay-allowance of first-class cricketers. Shakib had said that the players in Bangladesh were being restricted, and it all came to a head today, when in hastily arranged press-conference in Dhaka, the players provided an 11-point demand letter to the BCB, announcing that they would not have any cricket in the foreseeable future until the demands were met.

BCCI ready to play the waiting game

With the players going on an indefinite strike, the tour of India has been put under jeopardy but the Board of Control for Cricket in India – BCCI is ready to wait patiently watch the proceedings unfold. A senior source in the BCCI was quoted saying that it (players strike) is an internal matter of the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the board will be waiting to hear from its counterparts without making any comments.

“The BCCI will wait and watch the developments closely. This is an internal matter of the Bangladesh Cricket Board and until and unless we hear from them, there is no need for us to make any comments,” a senior BCCI functionary said as quoted by The Indian Express.

Interestingly, this is not the first time that a turmoil in the visiting team’s set-up that put an Indian home series in jeopardy. In 2014, the touring Caribbean team had boycotted the Test series following a pay-dispute with their board. The West Indies Test series was then replaced with a 5-match ODI series with Sri Lanka, which is now famous for Rohit Sharma’s record-breaking 264 at the Eden Gardens.

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