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Cricket Board President accorded reception |
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June 29, 2000
Dhaka (UNB) – Bangladesh Cricket Board President Saber Hossain Chowdhury was accorded a reception at Zia International Airport yesterday on his return from a successful mission in the just concluded ICC meeting in London that unanimously awarded Test status to Bangladesh.
The most dynamic and dedicated BCB President’s parleys with the cricket giants had led to the country’s entry into the elite club of world cricket as the 10th Test playing nation.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Obaidul Quader congratulated the victor BCB boss first with bouquet at the tarmac of the airport at 6.55 am. Internationally reputed cricket organiser and BCB General Secretary Syed Ashraful Haq was also given heartiest welcome at the airport for his splendid role.
Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Abdus Sattar Khan, two joint secretaries of BCB Mahmudul Haq Manu and Dewan Shafiual Arefin Tutul, BCB member Ali Ashan Babu, Mozammel Haq Manju, Jalam Yousnus and Raquibul Hassan were present. Surprisingly, no former or current cricketers were seen in the airport.
After exchanging greetings with sports officials and well-wishers, BCB President took part in the test status celebration programme by cutting a big cake provided by Bangladesh Biman. The cake was inscribed with “Congratulations for getting test status.” Biman’s Director Administration Ashan Kadir attended the cake cutting ceremony.
Talking to newsmen at the VIP lounge, the BCB president spoke of their last four years’ continuous efforts, both in field and table, for getting the test status. “It was possible due to our definite target and strong determination.” “The game of the table is over and now we must prove our worth on the field to justify the honour as 10th member of the test-playing nations.”
A beaming Bangladesh Cricket Board President Saber Hossain Chowdhury made the comment during a press briefing on Wednesday at the VIP Lounge of Zia International Airport on return from a successful mission in London.
“Our playing standard was not enough to get the test status, but we earned it by organizing capability,” he said.
The BCB boss said Bangladesh adopted different tactics to earn the full membership of ICC “because we’ve not enough quality on the field.”
“We filed our plea to the International Cricket Council (ICC) for full membership in 1996 and then our first target was to change the ICC rules,” he informed.
He said the BCB’s different tactics included organizing international tournaments in Dhaka to prove that Bangladesh has “real cricket passion.”
“We had been working for four years to prove our efficiency and the labour brought in victory, as we proved that we have real infrastructure to earn the full-membership,” he added.
Replying to a question, the BCB president said, “No, it is not true that the test status now depends on cricket diplomacy, because we gained this for our potentiality in cricket.”
He also confirmed that the new test-born Bangladesh would play their first match next season, but declined to say who would be the opponent.
“We have three options, but it is yet to be confirmed who will play with us in the first test,” he said.
Saber Chowdhury added: “We’ll play our maiden test match on own soil, because this will be more beneficial for us.”
Replying to a question about the preparation for first test, he said: “We’ll play in Mini World Cup in Nairobi in October. Then we’ll also try to play some three or four day preparation matches against the participating countries.”
He said coach Eddie Barlow of South Africa would again join the national team in August after his full recovery from illness. “I hurriedly informed him the breaking news by e-mail.”
The BCB boss said the domestic cricket will not see any drastic change “after this success”, but they would try to organise four or five day matches.
“We’ll also apply to the ICC to declare our longer version matches as first class,” he added.
Saber Chowdhury, the most successful BCB boss, said they had done their job gaining the success on the table, but the real success would come if players could raise their quality like a test-playing nation.
“We should try that the (test) status not remain a symbolic one… it is our duty to prove we are fit for the honour,” he said. “We created the opportunity for our players, now they have the responsibility to prove their class by hard work.”
He said: “We had determination and a target, which helped us to reach the goal, but we’ve now a big challenge to show respect to the honour.”
The BCB president said they had also discussed with the Australian authorities during the ICC annual meeting about joint work for developing the country’s cricket.
“We’ve a vision to make Bangladesh a frontline cricketing nation within ten years and a target to co-host the 2011 World Cup,” he said.
BCB general secretary Syed Ashraful Haq, who played a pivotal role in earning the test status, also returned from London with his president this (Wednesday) morning.
Expressing his feelings, Haq said: “Everybody had contribution to earn the success, specially the players made a great job to accomplish the feat.”
But BCB president said the present board played the key role to earn the success and regretted that the success came ten years later because the former boards did not apply to the ICC for the status.
State Minister for Youth, Sports and Cultural Affairs Obaidul Quader, who greeted the BCB president and general secretary at the Zia International Airport, was present during the briefing.
Saber Chowdhury, also Deputy Minister for LGRD, smilingly said that the sports minister gave all out support to them and hoped that he would also take an early decision about cricket ground.
Obaidul Quader quipped: “I am not thinking of only one ground… we’ll try to set up different venues for cricket.”
Replying to a question, the BCB president said they have received offers from different companies for sponsoring the Bangladesh team, but have not yet discussed those. “The game of the table is over and now we must prove our worth on the field to justify the honour as 10 member of the test-playing nation.”
A beaming Bangladesh Cricket Board President Saber Hossain Chowdhury made the comment during a press briefing on Wednesday at the VIP Lounge of Zia International Airport on return from a successful mission in London.
“Our playing standard was not enough to get the test status, but we earned it by organizing capability,” he said.
The BCB boss said Bangladesh adopted different tactics to earn the full membership of ICC “because we’ve not enough quality on the field.”
“We filed our plea to the International Cricket Council (ICC) for full membership in 1996 and then our first target was to change the ICC rules,” he informed.
He said the BCB’s different tactics included organizing international tournaments in Dhaka to prove that Bangladesh has “real cricket passion.”
“We had been working for four years to prove our efficiency and the labour brought in victory, as we proved that we have real infrastructure to earn the full-membership,” he added.
Replying to a question, the BCB president said, “No, it is not true that the test status now depends on cricket diplomacy, because we gained this for our potentiality in cricket.”
He also confirmed that the new test-born Bangladesh would play their first match next season, but declined to say who would be the opponent.
“We have three options, but it is yet to be confirmed who will play with us in the first test,” he said.
Saber Chowdhury added: “We’ll play our maiden test match on own soil, because this will be more beneficial for us.”
Replying to a question about the preparation for first test, he said: “We’ll play in Mini World Cup in Nairobi in October. Then we’ll also try to play some three or four day preparation matches against the participating countries.”
He said coach Eddie Barlow of South Africa would again join the national team in August after his full recovery from illness. “I hurriedly informed him the breaking news by e-mail.”
The BCB boss said the domestic cricket will not see any drastic change “after this success”, but they would try to organise four or five day matches.
“We’ll also apply to the ICC to declare our longer version matches as first class,” he added.
Saber Chowdhury, the most successful BCB boss, said they had done their job gaining the success on the table, but the real success would come if players could raise their quality like a test-playing nation.
“We should try that the (test) status not remain a symbolic one… it is our duty to prove we are fit for the honour,” he said. “We created the opportunity for our players, now they have the responsibility to prove their class by hard work.”
He said: “We had determination and a target, which helped us to reach the goal, but we’ve now a big challenge to show respect to the honour.”
The BCB president said they had also discussed with the Australian authorities during the ICC annual meeting about joint work for developing the country’s cricket.
“We’ve a vision to make Bangladesh a frontline cricketing nation within ten years and a target to co-host the 2011 World Cup,” he said.
BCB general secretary Syed Ashraful Haq, who played a pivotal role in earning the test status, also returned from London with his president Wednesday morning.
Expressing his feelings, Haq said: “Everybody had contribution to earn the success, specially the players made a great job to accomplish the feat.”
But BCB president said the present board played the key role to earn the success and regretted that the success came ten years later because the former boards did not apply to the ICC for the status.
State Minister for Youth, Sports and Cultural Affairs Obaidul Quader, who greeted the BCB president and general secretary at the Zia International Airport, was present during the briefing.
Saber Chowdhury, also Deputy Minister for LGRD, smilingly said that the sports minister gave all out support to them and hoped that he would also take an early decision about cricket ground.
Obaidul Quader quipped: “I am not thinking of only one ground… we’ll try to set up different venues for cricket.”
Replying to a question, the BCB president said they have received offers from different companies for sponsoring the Bangladesh team, but have not yet discussed those.
Before leaving for national mausoleum at Savar to pay homage to the martyrs of the Liberation War, Saber Hossain also exchanged greetings with several thousand cricket fans and enthusiastic crowd outside the the VIP lounge.
The cricket fans, who mainly came from Saber’s constituency in Motijheel-Sabujbagh area of the city, greeted him with slogans.
Saber, the Deputy Minister for LGRD, along with State Minister Obaidul Qauder then went to the National Mausoleum in a motorcade and placed wreaths there. Officials of BCB, CCDM and the Ministry of Youth and Sports accompanied them.
Later, the two ministers and top sports officials as well as cricket fans laid wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu Shiekh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Museum.
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