The fitness regime set for the players by the BCB [Bangladesh Cricket Board] for the upcoming National Cricket League is being widely praised. The BCB national selection has set level 11 in Beep Test as the minimum requirement to participate in the NCL that is set to start on October 10. The condition is being expected to put competition into the ‘excitement less’ first-class cricket competition of the country.
The system has however also put a big list of famed cricketers, both old and young, into trouble as they failed to achieve enough marks in the test and they are now seeking ‘special consideration’ from the selection panel so that they are allowed to participate in the tournament this year.
On Sunday, the indoor facilities at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur saw around 30 cricketers of different divisions attend the Beep Test. Alarmingly, majority of them were attending the test for the second time having failed the previous one.
Figures in shape of Mohammad Ashraful, Abdur Razzak, Tushar Imran, Nasir Hossain, Elias Sunny and few other known names attended the test on Sunday. Their performances were bettered from the previous time but still did not meet the required level. Top order batsman Imrul Kayes and right-arm pacer Al Amin Hossain were the only two known faces to have put some impression with result of level 12 and 12.2 respectively. For Ashraful and Razzak it was yet another failure having scored 10 and 10.1 respectively although they improved comparing to the previous test.
The situation of the renowned names failing in the fitness test has developed an argument that age and on-field performance should also be considered into the selection process. Out of favor national left-arm spinner Razzak echoed similar sentiment to the media on Sunday.
“Performance should be considered first. A performer should have a minimum consideration but it does not mean that the fitness level will be poor. There has to be a minimum level of fitness, if not, the player should not be considered for selection,” said Razzak to the reporters.
It is being widely discussed that the list of players with below par fitness has put the national selectors on a bumpy ride. In modern day cricket, fitness is considered as one of the keys to perform. Pakistan national cricket team, which is not known as the fittest of sides historically, has set a minimum level of 13 in Beep Test for selection. Meanwhile, a similar level of fitness is maintained even by the Australia regional teams. To meet the world standard the BCB selectors had taken a similar initiative but only to face a dilemma.
Member of the national selection panel Habibul Bashar admitted that some players will be considered for other factors such as ‘age and performance’.
“But it [other factors] will be considered for this season only. We will strictly follow the fitness test from next season. We have an ambition to set a minimum standard for the National League and fitness is a chief factor to have that,” said former Bangladesh skipper Bashar to Dhaka Tribune.
