DHAKA: Bangladesh's Test cricket will complete its 15th year in coming November. After securing Test status, Bangladesh played the first Test against India at Bangabandhu National Stadium in city on November 10 in 2000.
Scoring Test century on debut, Aminul Islam Bulbul drew the attention of international cricket. In the match, Bangladesh touched the milestone of 400 runs in the first innings with Bulbul’s 145 runs.
Tiger fans still remember Bulbul’s innings that prove merits of Bangladesh’s Test status.
Debut test centurion Bulbul is now in Dhaka. The former national team captain, who now lives in Australia, came in city as an instructor of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Level 3 coaching course.
After working with ACC for a long, he is now working with the ICC as a development officer.
On Tuesday (06 October), the last day of weeklong cricket coaching course in Mirpur, he talked to Banglanews on several issues including country’s cricket structure.
Bangladesh spent 15 years in Test cricket, but he was not happy, despite a little gain. Bulbul thinks that Bangladesh should achieve rank 6 or 7 in 15 years. According to him, the poor structure of country’s cricket is responsible for it.
Interview of first Test centurion for Bangladesh Aminul Islam Bulbul:
Banglanews: Earlier, you had worked for Asian Cricket Council (ACC). What have you been doing now?
Aminul Islam: I worked at ACC for a long. Now, I am involved with ICC as a cricket development officer. I have been working for the development of cricket in China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Kuwait and Singapore.
Banglanews: Would you like to detail the nature of your job?
Aminul Islam: As previously I worked only in Asia, now am working worldwide for cricket development. My key job is to train coach, to support the national team and play a role to progress of the national team.
Banglanews: Do you follow the updates of Bangladesh cricket?
Aminul Islam: I must follow the Bangladesh cricket. I get all updates of Bangladesh cricket through online portals.
Banglanews: What kind of changes did you find in Bangladesh team in 15 years?
Aminul Islam: I have not seen much change in Bangladesh cricket. We have played some good matches in One Days. However, we are still in the 9th position in the ICC test ranking. In this place, there is still a lot of room to work. It is expected that Bangladesh could rank 7 or 6 in the 15 years.
We were unable to spread the sports across the country. We could not make active the divisional centers. Winnings of Series or tournaments are not the image of country's cricket development. England have never won the World Cup. However, their cricket structure is stronger than many world cup winning countries. Our cricket structures could not achieve the required standard.
Banglanews: Do you indicate the regional cricket?
Aminul Islam: Yes, if you see our cricket, it is Dhaka-centric. Our regions are Khulna, Barisal, Rajshahi, Sylhet, and Chittagong. But they do not have any of their own players. The selectors make the team from Mirpur stadium and then they play. I did not see that Chittagong has grown up any age-group player through its own planning and training. If we can not do so, it will not get the real improvement. Many scopes are still left to improve.
Banglanews: How much the infrastructural development is related with these issues?
Aminul Islam: It is the most important. After the 2015 World Cup, I expected that indoor stadiums will be built in different regions. At least 100 pitches should have been made bringing good soil from different countries. Nothing has been done. No real development of cricket is being done here. All are Dhaka-based. The little development has done automatically.
Banglanews: Now come to the Bangladesh team. As Australia has postponed their tour, there is no international series in Bangladesh in next three months. Will it affect the players?
Aminul Islam: The series was postponed at the last moment. As discussion was underway, we expected that the series would be 
held as soon as possible. If Aussie does not come, it needs to increase domestic cricket matches.
Players should be kept busy in the matches. Keep them busy all the time. It is the board's responsibility to keep them active. As the series has been postponed not canceled, there should be practices keeping the series in mind. It is the management’s duty to keep the team in matches.
Banglanews: What is the reason behind that mentality has not grown in the players to stay at crease for a long in the Test Match?
Aminul Islam: It depends on the functioning of the country's domestic cricket matches. Our domestic cricket is still the 'picnic' cricket. The coach has huge responsibilities. When a player is grown up and his levels of physical and emotional matters require extra care. I think, this sector has a little weakness. We work with a lot of techniques, but the psychological development of the players does not get much importance. For which pace bowlers suffer injuries every day. If you like to stay at the crease for a long time, there is no any alternative but to play in longer versions. This should be followed from school cricket to first class matches.
Banglanews: There are some achievements in the Test cricket. Which matches do you keep in your special consideration?
Aminul Islam: I remember some of the Test matches at this moment, such as, Fatullah Test with Australia, Multan test with Pakistan and Barbados Test with West Indies in 2006.
Moreover, a double century by Tamim Iqbal in second innings against Pakistan in Khulna and a double-ton of Mushfiqur in Galle Test are the momentum for the country.
Banglanews: You have been involved with ACC and ICC for a long. Do you have any eagerness to be associated with Bangladesh Cricket Board?
Aminul Islam: Of course. However, I did not get any official offer from the Bangladesh Cricket Board. None has said to join there. There was no specific offer in this regard. If, they ask me obviously I will join for the development of the country's cricket.
BDST: 1320 HRS, OCT 07, 2015
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