BPL not the place to make players, says Shakib

Bangladesh's captain in Tests and T20s Shakib Al Hasan has said that Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is not the place to make players. 

In an interview with the Daily Samakal, Shakib talked about the new rule of playing a local leg-spinner along with the cricketing facilities and the income of cricketers from local leagues. 

When asked about the BCB's new rule of including a leg-spinner in every team, Shakib said that it's the first-class arena where the leg-spinners should get more exposure. He said, "I think that leg-spinners will play a lot of first-class cricket, bowl a lot of overs and become more consistent and confident. BPL is a competitive tournament of international standard. BPL is not the place to make players. Players will learn a lot by sharing the dressing room with overseas players. In BPL, they will face the scenarios which they are supposed to face in the international arena. BPL can never be a place to make players." 

He also said that suddenly playing seven leg-spinners in the BPL is surprising. "For all these years, we could not play leg-spinners in the National Cricket League (NCL). The decision to suddenly play seven leg-spinners in the BPL is quite surprising. Despite saying all that, I will say that the board will make the decision which they will deem to be the best," he added.

Shakib was supposed to sit with the BCB and plan out the future, but he said that he did not. "If the 'decision-makers' do not think that it is necessary to discuss with us, then there is really no scope for us to go. What I think is, talking with players or a group of players could really help the development of cricket. One thing I liked that is everyone is now focusing on the development of the game. Like - they are thinking about fitness. It would have been better if it was said earlier. Like Papon Bhai (Nazmul Hassan) has said, it will be told earlier next time and will be more difficult."

Shakib said that the focus should not be only on the national team and facilities need improvement. He said, "The national team should not be the sole focus of the organizers. Places like Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi and Sylhet should have a proper gym, running track and quality indoor facilities. Even the indoor facilities at Mirpur are not good enough, we can not bat more than 15 minutes during summer because of the heat. Air-conditioners have not been installed even after 10 years of persisting. It is quite disappointing when we see the indoors of the other countries with clear lighting and Air-conditioning. " 

The selectors have said that nobody will be allowed to play in the BPL if they did not participate in the NCL. Asked about Shakib's view on that, he said, "It depends on different players. I play in foreign leagues and can not really play here. It is not like that I will be not allowed to play in the national team for this. I think that these leagues should be made more attractive so that players are obliged to play in those."

Shakib also expressed his disappointment regarding the match fee in First-class cricket. "It (First-class match fees) is very disappointing. To live in Bangladesh, this match fee is very insignificant. Things continue to get costlier. Government employees get increments every year but we are paid the same every year. It even gets reduced. BPL and DPL are big examples. I feel that Bangladeshi cricketers are being suppressed which is very bad. For me, everyone should get an equal amount of opportunity. A player should be let to earn what he thinks he deserves. If no team wants to take him for that price, the player will deal with that. But to stop them from that (naming their price) is never a good thing."

Shakib's next assignment with Bangladesh is against India in November, when the Tigers will travel to the neighbouring country to play three T20Is and two Tests.