Desk Report,
Unease in Barisal due to conflict between seniors
Barisal has been at the bottom of the points table for three consecutive seasons in the four-day National Cricket League. They also finished eighth out of eight teams in the NCL T20 that started last year. Along with such disappointing performance on the field, Barisal is also suffering from conflicts among senior cricketers.
Unease in Barisal due to conflict between seniors
There is an air of unease within the team before the start of the new season. Several players and officials of the team have expressed their dissatisfaction with the conflicts among senior players on condition of anonymity. The situation is such that the BCB tournament committee is also having to intervene to free the Barisal team from conflicts. The board is also considering making a young person the captain instead of the seniors. BCB tournament committee head Akram Khan told Prothom Alo, “I have heard some complaints after taking charge. This time, the coach-manager will be told about these issues separately. If that doesn’t work either, then we will take action.” Sources said that two circles have formed within the Barisal team under the leadership of two senior cricketers Fazle Mahmud and Sohag Gazi. Due to this conflict, Fazle Mahmud stepped down as captain in the middle of the four-day season of the National League last year. Tanvir Islam took over as captain in his place. Later, Sohag Gazi became the captain in the NCL T20.
In an e-mail sent to the board, Fazle Mahmud cited the team’s poor performance and giving a chance to young leadership as the reason for stepping down as captain. However, it was learned that a faction of the team was vocal against the leadership of Fazle Mahmud, who led Barisal for the last three seasons. He decided to step down as captain after various allegations were made against him, including nepotism, in the formation of the team. Fazle Mahmud’s explanation for this, however, was that he told the BCB, “I wanted to give a chance to the youth. There is no other reason other than that.” Even after Fazle Mahmud stepped down as captain, the problems of the Barisal team did not end. New complications have arisen regarding the formation of the team for the NCL T20 and four-day season this year. According to the rules, the divisional coach sends a preliminary squad of 30 to the BCB. Then the national selectors make the final squad from there. But this time, before that process starts, Sohag Gazi made a squad of 30. Some people associated with the team feel that 3-4 of these 30 are not eligible to be in the team. Apart from that, according to the rules, the divisional team cannot form any cricketer individually.
