Focus is on juniors for the future - Hassan

Focus on the promotion of junior cricket was the main factor behind Bangladesh gaining Test status, revealed A.S.M. Roquibul Hassan, former Bangladesh captain, who is here as the match referee for the Asia Cup Under-15 cricket tournament.

"We realised the importance of junior cricket very early and it helped us a lot. Though we have now gained Test status, we know that we would be able to create an impact in the international only if we encourage our junior cricketers. That is why we now stage regional national league matches for the Under-13, Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19.

"Good talents from these tournaments are immediately spotted and trained to be inducted into the national side" said Hassan, who is a member of the International Cricket Council's Cricket Committee (Playing).

"We are aware that we will have a tough time against top teams in the next few years, but we have in place a set of development programmes which should bring us success soon," he noted.

Hassan agreed that they have been concentrating more on providing better exposure to their juniors than the seniors.

Their Under-19 team was in Sri Lanka for a month recently, and their Under-17 as well as Under-15 teams toured India. Bangladesh also invited the West Bengal Under-15 team to tour them. Talking about the shortage of international exposure for Bangladesh, Hassan said: "The ICC's decision to create a cricket calendar has helped Bangladesh a lot. Even if the big teams do not like to visit us or invite us to their country, now they are forced to do it as per the ICC's fixed schedule for all teams."

Bangladesh has also been focussing on setting up an effective coaching system. "There is a permanent coach for the national team. A Sri Lankan coach guides the Under-19 and Under-17 teams, while the Under-15 and Under-13 boys are being coached by former national players who have gone through coaching courses," Hassan informed.

"Cricket is tremendously popular in our country and hence our standard is bound to improve. There is a good support from the government too. Two incidents that Bangladeshi's are proud of are its independence in 1971, and the gaining of Test status. Cricket is a passion and the game will continue to flourish," remarked Hassan.