Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hasan hopes Bangladesh will directly qualify for the main round of the 2019 Cricket World Cup as the current position of team Tigers in the ICC one-day international ranking table has been impressive.
The Tigers are currently in the seventh spot in the ODI rankings followed by Sri Lanka in number eight. Considering 30 September as the cut-off time for the qualification, Nazmul believes Bangladesh will remain in top eight. Afghanistan's win over West Indies and Sri Lanka’s recent loss against Zimbabwe helped Bangladesh's cause and according to current situation, either West Indies or Sri Lnka will go to the 2019 World Cup as the eighth-placed team.
The top eight sides of the in the ODI ranking on the cut-off date will directly move to the main round of the world cup.
“Chance of not playing the qualification is big for us. The ICC has already started planning considering Bangladesh as one of the top eight teams,” said Nazmul to the media at his Dhanmondi corporate office yesterday.
Speaking on the speculation of Australia not touring Bangladesh for the two-match Test series following pay dispute between Cricket Australia and its players, Nazmul informed that the BCB has not been informed yet regarding any negative step form the Australian counterpart.
“They have not informed us anything yet. So far we know that the tour is in place and they will tour Bangladesh as per schedule. We are considering that the two Tests will take place accordingly until any negative communication from them. Also we cannot plan an alternative series in that slot at the moment because Cricket Australia has not canceled the tour,” explained Nazmul.
Meanwhile the BCB chief informed that the next BCB election will be held in October as per scheduled but the governing body is waiting for a court’s decision.
“There is no chance for a delay. We are waiting for a decision from the court and that’s why we are not being able to hold even the EGM and AGM. We wanted to have election as per the old constitution but our legal advisor advised us not to do according to old constitution. There are few pending issues. I hope those will be solved soon,” said Nazmul who is also a member of the Bangladesh parliament.
When questioned if Nazmul will like to stay as BCB president for another term, he informed, “It is tough for me to keep myself away from cricket to be honest but then again it is being hectic for me. I think it will be better for me to become as a board director rather than president. I am literally working as full time for the board despite my engagements with my job and politics. But I think it will be a relatively easy ride doesn’t matter who forms the next board. Bangladesh cricket has reached in a new level now and this progress will make at least next eight year’s job easy,” Nazmul concluded.
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
