Bangladesh Cricket Board director Khaled Mahmud is upset that he is not involved in the decision making process of the BCB cricket operations committee, a department where he is posted as the vice chairman.
Former Bangladesh captain Mahmud, who is chairman of the BCB game development committee, while speaking to the media Monday said he was never informed of the recent appointments of national spin consultant Rangana Herath and national batting coach Ashwell Prince.
Both the appointments of Herath and Prince were announced by the BCB Saturday.
Mahmud informed that despite having a top level post in cricket operations for the last four years, he learnt of the appointments through media and other sources.
Mahmud also said he is unsure if he still has the post in the department, which is led by another BCB director Akram Khan.
“I am not sure if I am still the vice chairman of cricket operations. I think I am there just for the name sake, given that I am never called or informed of any meeting. I did not even receive emails from the department for around two years,” said a dejected Mahmud when asked questions regarding the appointments of Herath and Prince.
“Papon bhai [BCB president Nazmul Hasan] handed us the charge, and gave us freedom to work. He never questions the way we work, rather comes to support when we need anything,” the BCB director added.
Mahmud reiterated that he is rarely made part of decisions related to BCB cricket operations, despite having the vice chairman post.
“How will I get to know of things if they think it is not necessary to inform me? I am vice chairman of cricket operations but I know nothing. I learnt about the appointments of the coaches [Herath and Prince] though you [media]. No one informed me [officially],” said Mahmud.
Mahmud said the decision to appoint Herath and Prince was taken while he was inside the bio-secured bubble in the just concluded Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League T20, but he was always reachable over phone.
Mahmud in the Dhaka League worked as team director of Abahani Limited who finished as the hat-trick champions.
“I learnt from the news that Prince and Herath have been appointed, but I was the first one to have advised the board regarding Herath,” said Mahmud.
While speaking to the media, Mahmud further claimed that the cricketers do not get to see enough of the BCB cricket operations chairman Akram as he remains busy managing his private business.
The comment was based on a media query if the failure of BCB cricket operations in running Bangladesh A team has made the board launch a different program as Bangladesh Tigers.
The program will have focus similar to that of the A team, which is keeping the national discards and potential cricketers as part of a regular training setup.
“I am not here to blame anyone as eventually we all together form the board and have the common duty which is to work on development of cricket irrespective of whichever department you belong to. I think the cricketers do not get to see enough of Akram bhai because he is not always available in the board. I am a man of the field so get to meet the cricketers more. It might be that Akram bhai remains busy with his personal business but he still tries to be make time for the board and work on development of cricket operations,” said Mahmud.
