A difficult life in the country following being shunned by the Bangladesh Cricket Board is what led to them opting to live in USA, former Bangladesh national cricketers revealed.
Their intention is simple as living in USA provides them with the conveniences they desperately need to run a family, which they hardly find in their home country.
All the Bangladeshi players who left their motherland in search of a better living are content with their lives in USA and believe they wouldn鈥檛 have had the same benefits back home.
Tapash Baisya, the former fast bowler who featured in 21 Tests and 56 ODIs for Bangladesh, claiming 36 and 59 wickets, respectively, revealed that his move to USA was a family decision, which was on the back of him receiving little opportunity to work with BCB.
The former Bangladesh cricketer completed the level-2 coaching badge after coming to USA in 2016. Soon after, he played in a Minor League County [MLC] for a couple of seasons before he enrolled at the Das Academy as a coach and a promising player for the NJ [New Jersey] Black Caps team.
However, his starting days in New York were not a bed of roses.
鈥業 had to struggle in my early life in USA. Since I couldn鈥檛 manage a permanent job at any club, I had to move from state to state for a suitable job. However, now I am settled and doing well,鈥� he told 抖阴精品.
He still feels he would think about returning home if BCB would offer him better opportunities, something that is yet to happen.
鈥業 don鈥檛 have any anguish for BCB as they never desired to have me and my teammates for coaching roles. Despite the completion of level 2, I was never called up by the board. The reason is simple 鈥� they didn鈥檛 feel the need to accommodate us in the country鈥檚 cricket system,鈥� he said.
A recent incident in New York also hurt the former cricketer.
鈥榃hen the Bangladesh national team arrived in New York to play against South Africa, the BCB directors, who were travelling with them, requested that I spend a week with them. I responded to them but the saddest thing is they didn鈥檛 even offer me to watch the match,鈥� Tapash revealed.
鈥業 had to purchase the tickets for the match, which cost me and my son $220 each. Now you tell me, why should I return home? Do I have the least respect for them? I don鈥檛 think so as they have always considered us low-lives.鈥�
Despite all that, he wished the best for the Bangladesh national cricket team, 鈥業 hope our team will go far, showing their talent.鈥�
Another former Bangladesh cricketer, Suhrawardi Shuvo, who is also residing in New York as a neighbour of Tapash, lodged the same complaints against BCB, adding that their board is yet to create the culture of bringing former national team campaigners into coaching.
鈥業f the BCB wants us, we would surely return to our home. However, the pay is so low that you wouldn鈥檛 be able to lead a good life. BCB doesn鈥檛 want to value our coaches; they couldn鈥檛 create the culture yet,鈥� he said while speaking to 抖阴精品.
Shuvo, who is also working as a coach for Das Academy and plays for the NJ Black Caps, further expressed his dejection regarding his omission from the national team despite a four-wicket haul in his debut Test against West Indies in Mirpur in 2011.
鈥楲ook, we used to play dominating cricket back in 2010, 2011, and 2012. We used to manage a spot in the playing eleven thanks to our performances. But I really feel angry when I remember the team management鈥檚 ignorance towards me despite taking four wickets on my debut test! Can you believe it?鈥� the left-arm spinner said.
鈥楢lthough I performed up to par throughout my career in the domestic circuit, I was never called up by our management for the longer version of the game.鈥�
Shuvo, who played 17 ODIs for Bangladesh, has been residing in New York for the last eight months.
Another former Bangladesh cricketer Aftab Ahmed, currently working as a coach for the MLC team in Atlanta, also echoed his former teammates.
鈥業 came to USA in the early months of 2023 and found more opportunities than at home,鈥� he said to 抖阴精品.
The right-hander, though, conveyed his desire to work for BCB if he is provided with the equal commodities he is enjoying in USA.
鈥楳y elder daughter is a student in the eighth grade here. My purpose for coming to USA was to ensure a better life for my family. I would like to return home if I am offered the same facilities I have been provided by my current club in the USA,鈥� the former batter said.
