Basher Shocked Over Ban!

Former Bangladesh Cricket Team captain Habibul Basher who joined the rebel ICL this week was banned by BCB for 10 years. Hearing this news, Basher expressed shock and said that this punishment is too harsh.

"It is really unexpected. The ten-year suspension is too harsh. I can't believe it," he told the Dhaka-based Daily Star. "Hopefully we [the 'rebels'] will meet tomorrow to decide our next course of action. We may try to meet with the board officials to explain everything."

"I think the people in this country will not misunderstand us because we didn't commit any crime, rather we just want to play cricket. It would be an unbearable pain for me to be cast as a banned cricketer after playing for my country for so many years. I don't understand why people call us rebel cricketers. There were reasons for me to take such a decision. I didn't consider only money because I know how big it is to represent the national team."

It is very unfortunate that BCCI is allowing the Indian players to play in English County Cricket, but not another league in the same country. Do they want to monopoly the cricket? Do they have to till have the top hand in the International Cricket (and threaten ICC sometimes?). People who are behind this only will know the answer apart from God!

Photo Credit: cricinfo.com

Top Bangladesh Players go to ICL!!

Top Bangladesh cricketers have decided to quit playing for the nation and decided to join the rebel league ICL. They have sent their retirement letters to the Bangladesh Cricket Board, which is yet to receive and accept it.

Six players who have decided to join the ICL said that they are not happy with the current systems.

Habibul Bashar, the former Bangladesh captain, said he felt let down by the team management, coach Jamie Siddons in particular. The situation was getting difficult for me," Bashar, who was dropped from the side for the Asia Cup, told the Dhaka-based Daily Star.

"I was not receiving support from anyone. Even the coach's attitude was discouraging and I was in the middle of a lot of uncertainty. I was out of cricket for seven months."

Left arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain said, "they don't think of us, so why should we think of them."

BCB has to immediately look into the situation and do something about it. Else, it would be too late and they will be in deep crisis.

Clarke v. Symonds: Round 1 to Clarke!

It is rumoured that Clarke, the current skipper of the Australian team (in the absence of Rick Ponting due to injury) is the main culprit and man behind the suspension of his friend Symonds from the team.

Symonds missed the team meeting and preferred to go for fishing. This was seen as lack of committment towards the team. Symonds was sent home in the middle of the Bangladesh series.

Cricket Australia said that it is not Michale Clarke who took this decision. It is a team decision invoving four members--Ponting, coach Tim Nielsen and team manager Steve Bernard.

It was a tough decision for Clarke, because both Symonds and Clarke are good friends.

Michael Hussey, vice-captain in Darwin and the man overlooked for skipper duties for the younger Clarke, praised him for making the big call at the risk of sacrificing his friendship with Symonds, which remains uncertain.

"It was very hard for him, he and Andrew are very good friends. But he seems to have handled it very well; he is the same person and hasn't got himself down about it. In a leadership position you will be required to make those tough calls, and he has done so," Hussey said.

Let us see what happens to him!! All the best Symonds!

Champions Trophy Retained in Pakistan!

The ICC committee has decided to continue with Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2008. South Africa was expecting that the venue would be changed to their country but ICC went ahead with their decision. Based on the report submitted on the security situation in Pakistan, ICC has gone ahead and did not change the venue.

Several countries are not happy with this decision and not sure about their participation in this Champions Trophy.

Australia is almost sure that they will not play this season. England has confirmed 90% that they will not participate. They said no players should be forced to play as the security of the players is more important.

New Zealand board is talking with the players to find out their comfort level.

With major teams not participating or at least hesitating to participate, it is better that ICC change thier venue or work out some other solution by which all the countries participating in this tournament are free from fear and play competitive cricket.