According to esteemed coach Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, the progression of the Bangladesh men’s team is being impeded by their stubborn adherence to previous traditions.
The seasoned analyst expresses skepticism regarding whether the Tigers’ recent series of historic victories against New Zealand under the leadership of Nazmul Hossain Shanto will mark the beginning of a new era for the team in the future year.
Fahim stated that his expectation for a stable team in 2023 was dashed following the Tigers’ catastrophic October-November performance in India, where they were eliminated as the first team to fail the apex event.
“In order to establish a lasting impression and establish a presence in global cricket, one must demonstrate action on the biggest stages. However, our performance at the previous World Cup was abysmal.”
“We are still chasing star players like Shakib [Al Hasan] and Tamim [Iqbal], but we need to understand that if we want to take our cricket to the next level on the international stage, we need to produce better players than them,” Fahim stated to The Daily famous.
Fahim, while recognising the generational talents’ contributions, raises doubts regarding their influence on the team’s global standing during their peak years.
“Shakib is unquestionably our most recognizable talent. It is indisputable that other players of his generation, such as Tamim and Mushy [Mushfiqur Rahim], have revolutionized the international landscape of our sport of cricket. Their dedication to our sport should not be underestimated.
“However, it is imperative that we acknowledge the fact that we are positioned last in the global cricket rankings during their peak season. Their efforts failed to advance our team into the top five. Therefore, if we desire to effect change, we must unearth superior individuals who contribute to the team’s overall success.”
The seasoned coach offers a critique of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) regarding its lack of consistency in determining when to expose or release players. Fahim, out of concern for the future of up-and-coming talents such as Shanto, emphasizes the necessity of providing them with consistent opportunities to develop.
“At the very least, there are glimmering prospects; however, the situation at hand is dire. Once more, the team demonstrated under Shanto’s direction that it possesses the necessary elements to develop into a formidable and competitive unit. Nonetheless, one missing link consistently threatens our continuity.
“It is not that the current team is comprised of players capable of resolving every issue that arises. “We will have to evaluate them at a later time, but there are signs that this new group of players allows us to move forward with innovative concepts.”
While recognizing the potential of the team under Shanto’s guidance, Fahim raises doubts regarding the prudence of continuing to work with Shakib.
“However, upon examining the Shanto case, we are not particularly optimistic regarding our future. Although Shanto has not achieved every objective, he has demonstrated that he merits an extended period of time to further develop his potential as a future leader. However, are we prepared to afford him that opportunity?
“A break from the captaincy should ideally be detrimental to Shanto.” A pause will hinder his progress in becoming a leader. In order to provide him with sufficient time to develop as a leader and instill the team with renewed ambitions and expectations, the board should promptly designate him as permanent captain.”
Shakib and Tamim, according to Fahim, would both lament the day they realized the detrimental effects their acrimonious relationship had on Bangladesh cricket. The eloquent caution he expressed serves as a poignant reminder of the intricate interplay between personal connections and the wider ramifications for the progress of Bangladesh cricket, particularly as the Tigers approach a pivotal moment.