The three-month bail granted to Rubel Hossain yesterday meant the national paceman’s dream of playing the 2015 ICC World Cup in Australia-New Zealand is well and truly alive. The Metropolitan Sessions’ Judges court passed the order yesterday, thus making Rubel available for the global showpiece event Down Under.
The plea for bail was granted by Judge Imrul Kayes following the hearing of the case. The bail order will be in place until the law-enforcement authorities submit the chargesheet against Rubel to the court.
Bangladesh Cricket Board’s cricket operations committee chairman Akram Khan said Rubel will now be clear of legal hassles, at least till the completion of the upcoming World Cup.
“According to our lawyer, he has received a three-month bail for the time being and during this period he can continue playing cricket,” Akram told the media yesterday after Rubel was granted the anticipatory bail.
BCB president Nazmul Hasan last Saturday announced that Rubel would receive the board’s full backing on the issue, provided there is merit in the case. And yesterday, following Rubel’s bail, the BCB supremo hinted that the right-arm paceman’s chances of featuring in the forthcoming 50-over World Cup have increased. Since Rubel was allowed the anticipatory bail, the BCB, now, has no qualms rallying behind the crestfallen cricketer.
“Since he got the bail, it is highly likely that he will play the World Cup,” said Akram.
“The news has brought a huge sigh of relief. We have always encountered difficulties with our pacers since most of them are injury-prone,” the former skipper added.
Akram further explained that Rubel is one among few pacemen who remains injury-free most of the time.
“If we had lost him, it would have left us with little fast-bowling options,” said Akram.
“He is an experienced bowler and is capable of bowling well during the powerplays. By the grace of Almighty Allah, he got the bail and it is very good news for him and Bangladesh cricket. Now he can give his hundred percent effort without any tension,” opined Akram.
The BCB director hoped that Rubel will now appear at the training camp of the World Cup squad, starting today at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Akram was also keen to draw a line under the recent events.
“Personally, I will request the board to discuss the matter of the players’ private lives since they are national assets. We should bring an end to these matters. Stern action should be imposed if this sort of allegation against any player is raised again,” said Akram.
The 25-year old cricketer from Bagerhat went behind bars last Thursday after his bail petition was rejected by the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in a case filed by film actress Naznin Akter Happy under the Women and Children Repression Act on December 13 last year.
The film actress alleged that she was previously involved in an intimate relationship with the national cricket and that Rubel went back on his promise to marry her.
Rubel appeared at the High Court on December 15 and filed an appeal requesting anticipatory bail. The court then granted a four-week bail.
On January 8, three days before the expiration of his anticipatory bail, Rubel surrendered to the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court and sought bail again. But this time, it was turned down and the cricketer was subsequently sent to jail.
