Bashar lashes out at BCB for 10-yr ban

Dhaka, Sep 18 (UNI) Former skipper Habibul Bashar has come out strongly against the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for imposing a 10-year ban on the 13 players who have joined the ICL.

''It is really unexpected. The 10-year suspension is too harsh.

I can't believe it,'' Bashar, who was named captain of the Dhaka Warriors on Tuesday, told the 'Daily Star'. ''I think the people in this country will not misunderstand us because we didn't commit any crime, rather we just want to play cricket.'' Bashar, who is Bangladesh's most successful captain and highest run-scorer in Test cricket, was saddened by the fact that his international career will end in such acrimonious circumstances.

''It would be an unbearable pain for me to be cast as a banned cricketer after playing for my country for so many years. I don't understand why people call us rebel cricketers. There were reasons for me to take such a decision. I didn't consider only money because I know how big it is to represent the national team,'' he lamented.

He added that all the Bangladesh players who had joined the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) will meet tomorrow to decide on their next moves,''Hopefully we will meet tomorrow to decide our next course of action. We may try to meet with the board officials to explain everything.'' UNI XC AB CS DS1225