BCB concerned over allegations against chief curator

BCB chief pitch curator Gamini de Silva has found himself in hot water with the board. Following Bangladesh’s 79-run loss in the tri-nation ODI series final against Sri Lanka at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka Saturday, Gamini has been alleged of not delivering a wicket to give Bangladesh home advantage. Bangladesh made a flying start to the tournament, which also involved Zimbabwe, winning the first three matches to qualify for the grand finale. The home side produced some flamboyant performances with the bat heading into the final and the Tigers were looking for a batting track against the Lankans to suit their needs. But to everyone’s surprise, the track at the home of cricket in Mirpur was not its usual self. The wicket was slow and low and batsmen of both the sides had to struggle. Sri Lanka batting first posted 221 on the board which Bangladesh failed to chase down following a batting collapse.

Bangladesh lost by 79 runs against Sri Lanka in the final of ROCKET Tri-Nation ODI Series 2018. pic.twitter.com/hsPB5VlF7J

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) January 27, 2018

Bangladesh team’s technical director Khaled Mahmud during an interview with a local news channel said there is no excuse for the Bangladesh batsmen behind their failure to chase 222. But he did express disappointment with Gamini for not delivering the wicket that the host had asked for. It is understood that the Bangladesh team management had asked for a batting track where they would be able to score 300-plus, batting first or second. There is also allegation against Gamini of not listening to the home side’s request. He apparently watered the wicket overnight against the board’s wish and failed to inform it to the team. There is also an alleged incident of former Sri Lanka cricketer Gamini meeting the Sri Lanka team manager at BCB Academy Building, ahead of the final. This has raised many eyebrows in the board and the cricket community.

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“Everyone knew (the kind of wicket the team wanted). Everyone was concerned about it, which also includes the board. Mahbub [Anam] bhai (chairman, BCB grounds committee) had tried but was very upset and vocal after the game. But then again we as a team should not think we lost only because of the wicket. We should have been able to chase 222,” Khaled had told a local news channel before traveling with the team to Chittagong. Bangladesh will lock horn with Sri Lanka in the first of two Test matches, starting Wednesday in the port city’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Cricket Stadium. Following the final, the Bangladesh cricketers were seen having discussions with a few influential BCB directors in front of the dressing room in Mirpur, centering around Mahbub. Meanwhile, BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury in an interview Monday said, “The team management has informed the board of the issue and we also saw news in the media on this. The board is concerned and we will soon have a discussion on this.”