|| CF DESK ||

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu as the new chief selector of the men's national team for the next two years after yesterday's [Tuesday] board meeting.

Today, the new chief selector Lipu and another newly appointed selector Hannan Sarkar came to meet the press and faced a question how his committee will cope up with influential coach Chandika Hathurusingha.  

Lipu, however, remained diplomatic in this regard and said "The ball hasn't been delivered yet, so let the ball come and let me play the ball first."

Throughout Minhajul Abedin Nannu's tenure and that of his committee, rumors have persistently swirled regarding the selection panel's independence in player selection.

While Minhajul, serving as chief selector since 2016, never openly addressed external influences, the whispers persisted.

The former captain Lipu also felt that if there is not enough freedom to work, there is always the option to leave.

"I believe that without freedom there is no enjoyment in working. The path is always open to come and also to leave," Lipu added.

Asked about how much freedom the new selection panel would have, Lipu said, "There will be freedom, it was discussed with me. But I don't want to talk about the previous process. Since it's team selection, obviously captain and coach will be involved. The system that is in international cricket is the system we would like to follow."