The dismal performance of Bangladeshi cricketers in the 16th Commonwealth Games at Kuala Lumpur has shocked the whole nation, raising the big question about the very credibility of Bangladesh cricket.
Are our players capable of winning a match? Is the Bangladesh Cricket Board being managed properly? And, last but not the least, whether Gordon Greenidge's gloomy forecast about cricket in Bangladesh is a prophecy?
After Bangladesh achieved its biggest success in Kuala Lumpur last year in the form of the ICC trophy, cricket should have progressed here in the last 18 months as it did with other ICC associate members. But being the winners of that trophy, did Bangladesh cricket followed the right path?
``I think we did not,'' said former national cricketer Dipu Rai Choudhury while talking to The Daily Star yesterday.
``It is time to evaluate all the reports that the managers and coaches submitted to the board after each tour in last two years,'' said a dejected Dipu.
On the other hand, former national cricketer Wahidul Ghani thinks it was obvious.
``I feel bad but I am not surprised because the way things were going nothing better than this could be achieved,'' said Wahidul.
Nazmul Abedin Fahim, the BKSP cricket coach who completed a month-long training at the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy in Australia along with 16 cricketers last month, was more concerned about the future of cricket.
``Of the three departments, I think the bowlers are performing consistently, the fielding leaves a lot to be desired but the standard of batting has declined to an alarming level'', said Fahim.
``If they keep playing like this, it will be too difficult for them to win the ACC trophy in Nepal next month. What I can see now is the morale of the team is totally shattered. That bothers me most and I will not be surprised if Bangladesh do not win the ACC trophy and qualify for the next Asia Cup,'' said the softly spoken coach.
Former chairman of the national selectors Lutfur Rahman Makhan was short of words.
`` I don't know what to say and how to perceive. I think our cricketers have lost their character, stamina, aptitude and enthusiasm for the game,'' said Makhan.
When asked how this could be overcome, Makhan said, `` We have to gear up our domestic cricket. We have to play longer version of cricket without which the cricketers will never earn the temperament they need to play the game at this level.''
Roquibul Hasan, former national skipper, said that it was a total mess. `` I am disappointed with the way they batted. It makes me believe that they lack technique and temperament as well. When the ball moves, they can not play that. It happened in England also. The most distressing part is they can not bat for 50 overs.''
`` I think a lot of homework needs to be done before the ACC trophy. The board should sit with the players and allow them to speak their minds and know where the lies the problem,'' Roquibul added.
Mahmud Ul Haque Manu, a joint secretary of Bangladesh Cricket Board, also expressed his sheer frustration over the performance of the Bangladeshi boys in Kuala Lumpur.
`` Every body has gone ahead of us but we are still in the festive mood of our ICC triumph. Unless we can shake all that and look forward, things will not improve,'' said Manu.
`` I also blame the team management for not giving chance to more than one spinner on the turning tracks of Kuala Lumpur. Besides, there were two newcomers who should have capped when our veterans were not playing to their reputation.''
``The thing that hurts me most is that none of the three reserves from the England tour were considered for the Malaysia trip where you introduced two young cricketers. I am sure these two will be missing when the selectors name the ACC trophy squad,'' Manu added.
When Manu was trying to shift the blame on the team management and selectors, former national cricketer Jahangir Shah Badshah thought otherwise.
``I don't know why the board did not send Gordon Greenidge with the team if he is the best available coach in the country. The question is what is the board trying to achieve. Are they only concentrating in holding international tournaments?''
`` Domestic cricket is in a horrible state and they (the BCB) don't take anybody's advice. If they think they are the sole authority of the game then they should come out with a reasonable explanation now,'' added Badshah.
Shakil Kasem was more straight forward in his comment. ``I think they have performed as per their abilities. They can not do anything better than this. They have been put under huge pressure by the board to do well without providing them the things they actually need to do so. They have been thrown into the deep,'' said an angry Shakil.
`` The ODI status was too early for us. It has damaged our cricket more because we still do not have that sort of infrastructure in our domestic cricket which will make our cricketers more competitive,'' he added.
There was frustration all around.