Mirpur (Bangladesh), June 30 (IANS) The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has expressed unhappiness at the proposed tri-series between Pakistan and West Indies in Zimbabwe to decide a berth for the Champions Trophy.
The series will see the two visiting teams and the hosts battle it out among themselves for the eighth and last slot for the 2017 event in England.
Arranging a competition by the West Indies and Pakistan boards to further the respective interests of their own teams cannot be proper, said BCB Media Committee Chairman Jalal Yunus on Monday, reports bdnews24.com.
The tri-series does not put Bangladesh’s place in the Champions Trophy at risk. The top-eight One-Day International (ODI) teams, including hosts England, will take part in it.
Bangladesh climbed to seventh spot with 93 points during their recent series against India which they won 2-1. They will play a three-match ODI series against South Africa at home next month.
The West Indies are five points behind in eighth position. Pakistan are currently ninth but have a five-match series against Sri Lanka starting on July 11.
Yunus spoke about the tri-series after announcing the title sponsors for the South Africa series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium here.
The BCB director said he believed that the system of organising tours has ‘gone bad’ since the International Cricket Council (ICC) stopped getting involved in the Future Tours Programme (FTP).
“The FTP that the ICC had was better. The system went bad from the day ICC stopped doing the FTP and the matter has become a thing of bilateral agreement. It has created a lot of opportunities but also left loopholes. I don’t support this. It is no longer a healthy competition,” Yunus said.
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) on Sunday confirmed participation in the tour. Until Sunday’s confirmation, the West Indies were not scheduled to play any ODIs before September 30 — the cut-off date to qualify for the Champions Trophy.
Yunus, however, said that it was within the Caribbeans’ right to participate in the series.
“When the ICC left the matter up to the countries to organise series among themselves, it left a lot of space to be manipulated. I don’t see it as a conspiracy. We still have a chance. Nothing is happening outside the rules. Everyone has the right,” said Yunus.
He also pointed out that even if the tri-series takes place, there is no chance for Bangladesh to arrange a series before the deadline.
“We don’t have much to do about this. Neither we nor the ICC have a hand in this. We don’t have time for something new either. We will finish the South Africa series in August and Australia will come in September,” said Yunus.