The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) three-member committee, comprising board directors Enayet Hossain Siraj (convenor), Mahbubul Anam, and Akram Khan, has initiated a comprehensive assessment of Bangladesh’s dismal performance in the ICC World Cup 2023 held in India. Formed on November 29, the committee aims to delve into the reasons behind Bangladesh’s subpar showing in the tournament and analyze the factors contributing to their downfall.
The Bangla Tigers, once a formidable force in One-Day cricket, experienced their worst World Cup campaign since 2003. Led by Shakib Al Hasan, the team suffered seven defeats in the nine-match league stage, facing setbacks against top-notch opponents and even an embarrassing loss to the eventual wooden-spooners, Netherlands. The team’s struggles raised concerns, prompting the BCB to form a committee to scrutinize the issues.
Wins over Afghanistan and Sri Lanka were the saving grace for Bangladesh, securing them the eighth and final spot for the 2025 Champions Trophy qualification. Despite the qualification, the team’s lackluster performance necessitated a thorough examination.
The BCB committee, seeking to unearth the root causes of the team’s poor showing, engaged in discussions with key figures. On Sunday (December 3), BCB chief selector Minhajul Abedin, selection committee member Habibul Bashar, and players Mustafizur Rahman and Litton Das were summoned to share their insights with the committee.
“The thing is that we are discussing with everybody. It’s not an inquiry. The failings we had in the World Cup where our results did not go according to expectations, meant that we had to talk to everyone so that in the future we can take the team to higher levels,” clarified committee convenor Enayet Hossain Siraj in a statement to reporters.
The committee’s proactive approach reflects the BCB’s commitment to addressing the challenges faced by the national team and implementing measures to propel them to higher levels of performance in future tournaments. As the assessment continues, cricket enthusiasts await the committee’s findings and recommendations to pave the way for Bangladesh’s cricketing resurgence on the international stage.