Test cricket shake-up beneficial for Bangladesh: Papon

Nazmul Hasan Papon, the first elected president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), has been central to the country`s rapid rise in the international cricket circuits. Son of late president Zillur Rahman, Hasan first took over as BCB chief in October 2012 after his predecessor Mustafa Kamal was elevated as vice president of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Later in July 2013, when a Supreme Court ruling modified the BCB constitution, he was elected unanimously to the top job in Bangladesh cricket.

Hasan, a strict disciplinarian, caught the attention of the cricket world when he decided to slap a six-month ban on star player Shakib Al Hasan for his alleged misbehaviour with then new coach Chandika Hathurasinghe. Under his watch, young players such as Mustafizur Rahman, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed and others have burst through the ranks.

In this interview, he speaks about his vision as the head of BCB, BCCI and the proposed abolishment of the `Big Three`, and Bangladesh`s Test future among other things.

Excerpts:
How did you get into cricket to become the first elected BCB president?
I was actually involved with cricket for a long time. Abahani cricket league is very popular since liberation and one of the clubs is Abohani and I was there [He served as a president for a decade]. The first decision [to become president] wasn`t mine. At that I was nominated by the government in the adhoc committee. Then there was election as per constitution of ICC, and I decided to contest.

You have been instrumental in instilling discipline in the team, be it reigning someone as big as Shakib Al Hasan or whoever.

I am basically a professional. What I found is that we have talent but there are certain (disciplinary) issues that we don`t see in professional organisations. So, I thought I should bring in professionalism first. Discipline is very important. Also accountability and transparency in the board. I wanted to give the team best possible facilities available.

Another thing is that I wanted to bring in new players to bring in more competition. As soon as I became the president, we brought in so many players - Mehdi Hassan, Mustafizur Rahman, Sabbir [Rahman], Taskin [Ahmed], Taijul [Islam], Al-Amin [Hossain], Kamirul Rabbi.. and more.

The idea was to bring in more competition. We have been playing with the same team for a long while. The effort was to improve domestic cricket - things are moving but we have a long way to go.

What was happening - well I don`t know whether it`s correct or not but what I found out was that we have talent but they weren`t getting into the team. Past performance was considered the most important. I said no, present form and future should be considered. Who is playing better now? That`s the approach. No use having good records but if he is not performing now, then the ones doing well should come in.

When you are well-entrenched in the team, then it can lead to complacency and indiscipline. Did you look at it that way?
Let me put it this way - competition is always good. Take India - even the A team is so strong, and there are so many players waiting in the pipeline. Someone like [Ambati] Rayudu is in the pipleline - they have ready replacements. That`s what I wanted to do. We don`t have so many but that`s where we want to be. The main challenge is to give them a chance.

Shakib Al Hasan is a superstar in the country. You are from a big political family and all that but still, how did you decide to take him on in some ways?
I can`t tell you what really happened but the thing is, to be very frank, it wasn`t just Shakib. There were others who were a bit indisciplined. Even in BPL last year we fined Sabbir Rahman 33 lakhs, which is a big amount to him. Even Al-Amin Hossain. We are very strict on that.

As for Shakib, it was bad luck to him! He was the first one I caught and I found something wrong. After we cautioned Shakib, I have found that the others have become better and very serious. Nobody thought that you can do anything to Shakib. And when the action was taken, the others turned serious.

I speak to all of the players. I talk directly to the players. I give them a chance to explain. I don`t do it by a committee or not.

You then sent Shakib to Big Bash in 2015 after earlier not allowing him to CPL?
Because he had changed a lot. He has shown that he has improved a lot.
There have been murmurs about Mushfiqur Rahim`s captaincy. As a president, what`s your take on it?
That`s difficult to say right now as the series is going on. We will see. Everything is under the radar. We are discussing everything.
What`s your take on ICC revenue talks? The big three India, England, Australia have been asked to cut down on their shares.
There are two components - financial and constitutional. I was part of the (reforms) committee. Unfortunately, what has happened with the BCCI because of the new changes in the structure and everything in India, there were no representatives there. Ideally, there should have been a representative from BCCI as well. So what has happened is that there was a gap.
Normally in a meeting, even when N Srinivasan was there, we would have a chat [before the meeting]. When I say we, I mean - the Asian countries. Even when Anurag Thakur was there.
This time no one contacted. So, there was a bit of gap. Now in the meeting that I have already proposed we should give sufficient time and it has been decided that India will give their proposal and it will be finalised in April meeting. So in principle, the new revenue model has been agreed but not all the clauses.It was a working paper and not everyone would agree in every meeting.

BCCI have been saying that their share shouldn`t be cut down. Do you see them agree with the rest?
That is something very difficult. As I said there are two issues - financial and constitutional. BCCI cannot say, yes take our money. At the same time, Bangladesh cannot say we don`t want to take the money. It`s a big money for us. It`s more than 400 crores. We need money. They are issues that we need to discuss - okay how much you can give.
I do feel that existing proportion of money share that is there - we Bangladesh are getting very less. It`s insignificant. You see previously the government used to finance us. After the new constitution, which says no governmental interference, we have to do everything on our own. When you don`t have funds, how can we run our cricket? Someone has to look at it. Even India can look into it, I am not saying only ICC needs to do it. Someone has to find a formula where small or weak countries who don`t have sufficient funds can survive.

What`s your view on the new Test championship - it will be beneficial to Bangladesh as everyone would have to play everyone else?
Test is one thing we have not been playing much. If we don`t play Test how can we improve? This would be a big plus point for Bangladesh as they have now said 9-3 split. Which means we would be playing Tests and get a chance to play against all the other countries. And our quality would definitely improve.
Our main problem is that the temperament, attitude you require in Tests, you don`t see it. They all go for big shots because they are habituated playing ODIs and T20s. So I am sure this new proposal would definitely help.

What is the thing you are most proud of?
See, win or loss in cricket can`t be guaranteed. But the best thing I find that we have won (ODI) series (at home against big teams). We have beaten India or Pakistan in odd games before but this time we have beaten India, Pakistan and South Africa in a series. We are very good in ODIs in Bangladesh. The best things we have found (are) new boys (coming through the ranks). It makes me feel that we are doing something right.
And of course this India series. It was a big issue. Basically, it happened due to Mr. Anurag Thakur. I have been trying ever since I became the president and I am glad that it has happened.

Source: Cricbuzz