Dalmiya happy with Wills preparation (14 Sep 1998)
Test tourney slot for Bangladesh likely
14-Sep-1998
14 September 1998
Dalmiya happy with Wills preparation
Sports Reporter
Test tourney slot for Bangladesh likely!
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is actively considering
Bangladesh as the tenth country for the proposed World Test
championship. This was disclosed by ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya
during a press conference at a city hotel last night.
The cricket supremo arrived in the capital on Saturday night to review
the ongoing preparations for the forthcoming Wills International Cup,
scheduled for an October 24 start. Dalmiya is due to return to
Calcutta this morning.
Hosted by Bangladesh Cricket Board President and Deputy Minister for
Shipping Saber Hossain Chowdhury, the ICC chief executive David
Richards also spoke on the occasion.
Asif Iqbal, the event manager of the knock-out tournament involving
nine Test playing nations, and BCB general secretary Syed Ashraful Huq
were also present.
Speaking to the press, Dalmiya, the Calcutta-based bespectacled
cricket organiser, said that Bangladesh has the potential to emerge as
the tenth Test playing country but needs to improve a lot in the
longer version of the game.
"You should concentrate more on three or four-day cricket instead of
one-day matches because that is the only way you know about a five-day
match," said Dalmiya.
He also revealed that Nasimul Ghani, the ICC development officer for
the Asian region, has put up a high recommendation to make the
Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP) the Regional Development
and Coaching Centre for Asia.
"This is a very positive sign for Bangladesh cricket. The
infrastructure you have at the BKSP is impressive and that is why
Nasimul has recommended to make it a centre for the development of
Asian cricket," said Dalmiya.
Apart from Bangladesh cricket, Dalmiya confirmed that the Wills
International Cup will be held according to the schedule.
"The schedule of a tournament of such magnitude where all the full
members of the ICC are taking part, can not be shifted because this
has been finalised a year before. We understand that the country is
going through its biggest natural disaster of the decade, but we hope
things will start to improve soon."
When asked if the situation worsens further what the ICC is going to
do, the smiling Dalmiya said," I don't think such a situation will
come. Even though we are confident that we will cross the bridge when
we come to it."
Besides, Dalmiya expressed his full satisfaction on the preparatory
works for the Wills International Cup.
"I have seen the ground, also inspected the flood lights and the work
going on for the electronic scoreboard. Things are going ahead of our
schedule which is very encouraging," said Dalmiya, adding that this
was a scheduled visit for him.
Replying to another question whether ICC will donate a percentage from
their million dollar earnings to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund,
Dalmiya technically ducked the query saying he alone can not take any
decision in this regard.
David Richards, the chief executive of the ICC, also asked the BCB to
start playing longer version of cricket on a regular basis.
"Switching to Test cricket from One-Day level is very difficult unless
you play first class cricket," said Richards who will sit with Pepsi,
the official drink sponsor of the Wills International Cup, this
morning before heading for England in the afternoon.
Source:: The Bangladesh Daily Star (https://www.dailystarnews.com)