BCB, Sponsors keep mum on Santokie saga

BBPL

BCB, Sponsors keep mum on Santokie saga

Z.Ahmed

13 Dec 19 19:58:45

Photo - BCB , Roton Gomes

|| CF Correspondent ||

Bangladesh Cricket Board said that they are not in a position to comment regarding the Krishmar Santokie no-ball saga that rang the alarm bells across the cricket world on the BPL's opening day.

Sylhet Thunders controversial pace bowler Santokie made it into the playing XI against Rajshahi Royals despite raising quite a few eyebrows in the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League opener at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Thursday.

Sylhet Thunders team director Tanjil Chowdhury revealed that they have requested Bangladesh Cricket Board to investigate the wide and no-ball of Santokie in his opening over against Chattogram Challengers in the first game of the ongoing BBPL.

There was apprehension whether he will be picked for the second game against after fingers being pointed out on him but Royal’s team management seemed to think otherwise when they took on Rajshahi Royals.

Santokie bowled a huge wide in his third delivery but the no-ball that he bowled two balls later cannot be ignored as just something like part of the game considering the length he overstepped.

Social media was understandably abuzz, with the image of Sylhet Thunder bowler Santokie going over by several inches during their match against Chattogram Challengers in Dhaka being shared around.

‘’It is an individual case and we cannot just sit with an individual case,’’ BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury told reporters on Friday.

‘’We are totally focused to complete the tournament without any corruption. As this is a sensitive case I cannot make any comment without knowing the detail,’’ he said after his attention was drawn regarding the recent statement of Thunders director Tanjil.

BCB appointed seven board directors to be involved with respective teams that are sponsored by the different business houses for the special edition of BBPL.

BCB is organizing the special BBPL to mark the birth anniversary of the father of the nation after cutting ties with the franchises citing that the franchises were making unreasonable demands.

’The no-ball that he bowled is suspicious,’’ said Tanjil.

‘’He [Santokie] is not yet called by the BCB but I have lodged my complaint. I verbally requested CEO and Morshed [BCB anti-corruption head] to investigate the matter[ no ball],’’ he said.

‘’We[ BCB director] don’t have anything to do with the playing XI. It is up to the management and the coach. I asked the sponsors whether they interfered in the playing XI and they are refusing to say anything. Now we have to talk with the team management and know whether anyone influenced them to play Santokie because it seems he is associated with spot-fixing.

Tanjil raised suspicion about the sponsor [Jivani Footwear Company] and said that he is quite doubtful about their activities since the day of the player’s draft.

‘’They have brought a cricketer called Santokie and he had given such a no-ball and such a wide ball. It was something that I was afraid of whether such a thing can happen,’’ said Tanjil.

‘’On the day of the players draft, there was a lot of conflict between us. Me and team director Sarowar Imran was convinced with a certain decision. Sponsors were insisting on taking few cricketers and we were not sure why they are insisting to pick those cricketers. We had the chance to pick Nayeem Sheikh and other superstars. But they preferred to pick players like Sohag Gazi and Santokie. That is the reason we started doubting them. I have informed BCB governing council members and BCB president in a paper about my apprehension. I have even informed it to Mahbub Anam. At that point, they[ BCB] have called them and cautioned them. We have picked a few cricketers outside the draft. But players like Santokie are picked by the sponsor and they communicated with their agents all by themselves,’’ he said.

Tanjil, who is given the charge of Sylhet Thunders, said that he smells something fishy and requested BCB and ACU to investigate the matter verbally.

Thunders media officials said that their owner Mohiuddin Moyeen is not ready to make any official comment in this regard.