Bashar fooling no one
A little over seven months after a dramatic retirement and subsequent defection to the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL), one-time Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar 'realized' the value of national pride.
After leading the mass mutiny against the BCB in September last year, it has taken Bashar about half a year and a drastic change in circumstances to mellow his stance and proclaim his love and support for a national side he felt no qualms about deserting not so long ago.
But contradiction is not out of character for the man, who had proclaimed that the public had not understood his stance properly back then.
As a player, Bashar had been invaluable during the infancy of Bangladesh cricket. His consistent showings gained him the tag of Mr. Fifty and he was repeatedly one of our top performers.
Post-World Cup 2007 however, there was a noticeable decline in his performances (he did not make a Test fifty for almost two years before his last Test) and his reactive, defensive captaincy only added to the voices of discontent.
This was a cricketer past his best. And so fell the axe, and with it were sown the roots of his angst.
Understandably Bashar did not take the decision well. Six months after being discarded from the side, Bashar had handed in his resignation and moved to the greener pastures of the ICL.
And now six months later, he wants back.
No matter how he sugarcoats it, Bashar's choices are self-interested. There is nothing wrong in that, but his continual disregard for the general public is shocking.
Upon joining the ICL, Bashar seemed utterly surprised to be labelled a 'rebel'. "We joined the ICL only because they never asked us to stop playing for our country," said Bashar. Such comments would have made sense if only Bashar had not just a few days earlier handed in his resignation to the board citing 'improper structure.'
'I did not feel wanted,' he later added and justified his defect by grossly misquoting earning figures of national players in an interview with the Times of India. He would stoop to nothing to justify his cause, it seemed.
But then, his cause deserted him and Bashar was left high and dry.
As talks with the ICC failed, the ICL increasingly looked like a dead-end destination. And the Mumbai attacks further clouded its very existence. Bashar realized that his hopes of riding into the sunset seemed to hang by a thread.
So what does a self-respecting 36 year old, who knows only how to play cricket, do in such a circumstance?
Make a simple net present value calculation, that's what.
Bashar realized that with the ICL facing the prospect of extinction, his “Indian summer” had come to an end. He realised his next best alternative was possibly some non-playing role with the national team that he had made his name with.
That would be impossible with the ten-year ban imposed upon him by the BCB. Luckily, cricket boards across the world were at that very time, putting out amnesty windows for all their players. Bashar just had to wait for his one.
And when it came, the former national captain, and more recently rebel and critic of the national “structure”, duly rediscovered his love for the country and rejoined the national fold.
And what of the improper structure that he had cited?
Coach Jamie Siddons, said by Bashar himself to be a chief cause of chagrin, still remains in charge. Rafiqul Alam, chief selector at the time of the defect is also incumbent. And Mohammad Ashraful is also still captain. The alleged root of Bashar's discontent remains absolutely unchanged and active.
The only thing that's changed is Bashar's circumstances.
At the press conference to announce his 'comeback', Bashar urged the country's
young players to think twice before going down his path.
Pride stopped him short from making an apology to the nation or the public, but he can rest assured that his example will be one most youngsters would be loathe to follow.
Money is not everything, said the 're-born nationalist' at the press conference. For once he is being truthful. Because for Bashar, it is the only thing.
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