An open letter to the Bangladesh cricket fraternity,
31st May 1999 at Northampton a date and venue that Bangladesh will remember forever. You had beat Pakistan in the World Cup which started a journey; finally having won a game against a Test playing nation. What followed was a huge struggle and a struggle for Pakistan too.
When the World was against giving Bangladesh Test status, Pakistan backed them. They took the case to the ICC and did everything they possibly could do to help Bangladesh in this what would have been a lonely fight. End result; just in case you have forgotten was that you got Test status.
Constant jibing from the World was still happening. People questioning whether you deserved regular games, let alone Test status was still happening. Many Western (and a Eastern) teams refusing to give you tours. One team in particular gave you tours; oh yes it was Pakistan again.
Pakistan toured you some months ago. Your Chairman, Mustapha Kamal promised his Pakistani counterpart Zaka Ashraf a tour of Pakistan in April 2012 in favour of a vote in the ICC presidential elections. This for the light hearted was a give and take, Pakistan want home games and you wanted the ICC presidency.
Come to the Bangladesh Premier League and Pakistan again backed you. They sent their players and helped making the tournament a success. Again in this tournament some nation did not send any players. The likes of Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal finished the England limited overs series before flying out within hours to help Dhaka become champions.
Since the BPL what has followed is a complete shambles. Appealing the Asia Cup final result was a laughable act, if that was not enough to tell the PCB that they will not now tour was the next step. When Zaka stepped his foot down about the election vote, Kamal changed his mind yet again.
You announced that you will tour Pakistan but now for only one ODI and one T20. Pakistan like usual was very happy that a 'Brother' has stepped forward to help. How wrong they were with a court ruling delaying the tour by at least 4 weeks. This followed by you telling the Pakistani's the tour was off.
The way you have treated Pakistan is like they are mugs. A more dignified yes or no would have been more appropriate. Having a man in-charge that changes his colour more than an Chameleon does, definitely doesn't help.
The Pakistan players are still owed between 25-75% of the fees that were agreed with the BPL. India have never given you the opportunity to tour them, let alone help out by sending players in the BPL; but again Pakistan are the culprits.
Zaka has conducted himself in the most dignified manner while you have instigated this whole charade to get what you wanted and then tell Pakistan to sod off. Pakistan have always stood up and helped out; but no longer. Gone are the days where we would be taken for a ride. From now we will work on our own terms. From this day, the blind faith from Pakistan is over and God forbid; just pray that day don't come when you need that Elder Brother again.
Yours no-more, a truth speaking Pakistani cricket fan.
GeoSuper