The Bangladesh Cricket Board has announced that a “six-month review” clause will be included in the players’ central contracts this year.
Jalal Yunus, the chairman of the BCB cricket operation, confirmed to Cricbuzz on Monday that the clause had been decided upon and would be submitted for board approval at the ensuing meeting.
The national selection panel recently suggested to the board that contracted players should be evaluated every six months to assess their development.
“Yes, we will have a review of centrally contracted cricketers after every six months. From now onwards we want the boys to value the central contract and act accordingly,”
Jalal said.
“We have not yet decided whether we will scrap the contract if anyone is found performing below par but more than anything else this initiative is taken to make a competitive atmosphere among the cricketers getting the central contract.”
Many board members believe that including the provision about scrapping in the clause will make it more effective, so the higher officials of the BCB may do so when approving the proposal.
The chief selector for BCB, Minhajul Abedin, added that while it is understood that underperformers might eventually have to answer for not living up to the standards, the introduction of the review clause does not imply that the length of the national contract will be anything less than one year.
“It (review after every six months) will make sure no one takes his place for granted but that does not imply that the central contract list will be changed after every six months,”
Minhajul said.
“Rather this initiative is likely to keep everyone on their toes considering they will be aware that the fingers will be pointed at them if they fail to deliver and come up with a below-par performance for a period of six months,”
he added.
Following the board meeting where BCB cricket operations will receive the necessary approval to implement the new law for centrally-contracted cricketers, a list of the cricketers who have been centrally contracted by BCB for the year 2023 will be made available.
Mahedi Hasan‘s future is uncertain, according to information obtained by Cricbuzz about Mohammad Naim, Shadman Islam, and Mahmudul Hasan Joy. Hasan Mahmud and Zakir Hasan, two fresh faces on the scene, are probably going to get a job.
It is believed that the BCB intends to reduce the 21-member list that was in place last year to 18 or 19, and that decision will largely depend on how the board decides to include Mahmudullah.
After being left out of the last ICC T20 World Cup squad, Mahmudullah has already retired from Test cricket, and his prospects for the 20-over format are extremely dim. Mahmudullah might be listed in the new category “Only ODIs,” if it is created.
An official from the Bangladesh Cricket Board revealed on Monday that Julian Calefato, a former national physio, has been named head of the organization’s rehabilitation centre. Calefato initially joined the Bangladesh team in 2019 as a physio, but later decided to leave the position in November 2021, citing family obligations.
BCB president Nazmul Hasan previously stated that the BCB intends to open a rehabilitation center to oversee the rehab programme for injured cricketers in order to help them recover from their injuries, and the appointment of Calefato is the first step in that direction.
“We (BCB) have appointed Julian as head of our rehabilitation center that we will open to make sure that our injured cricketers are having a smooth recovery,”
said Jalal.
