‘Have you seen Anil Kapoor’s Nayak?’ – Shakib Al Hasan lashes out at Bangladesh Cricket Board

Published on January 5, 2023

Bangladesh’s Test skipper Shakib Al Hasan mentioned the Bollywood film ‘Nayak’ in harsh criticism of his country’s cricket board for failing to advertise the Bangladesh Premier League. In the film, Shivaji Rao (Anil Kapoor) is challenged by the chief minister to run the state for a day and solve its problems. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) launched the BPL, a domestic T20 league, in 2012 with six franchises and has since added one more team.

The BPL will take place this year from January 6 to February 16, 2023, and will feature top cricketers from Bangladesh, Pakistan, West Indies, and other countries. The tournament will feature Shakib, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Tamim Iqbal, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Rizwan, Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz, and Mohammad Amir.

Unmukt Chand, India’s U-19 World Cup-winning captain, will make his BPL debut for the Chattogram Challengers

I don’t see what’s stopping us if we have the willingness: Shakib-Al-Hasan

“If they made me the BPL CEO, it would take me one or two months to correct everything. You have seen the movie, Nayak, right? If you want to do something, you can do it in one day. I would do the players’ draft and auction (on time) and hold the BPL during a free time. We will have all the modern technologies. There will be quality broadcast and home and away venues,” Shakib told reporters.

Despite securing exclusive broadcasting deals, Shakib criticized BPL’s management. Shakib, the leading wicket-taker in BPL history, claimed that the BCB never intended to publicize the tournament.

“I don’t know about the standard of BPL. It is difficult to say whether we could not or didn’t want (to make it successful). I don’t see any reason not to do if we want with the possibility we have in Bangladesh. I think we’ve never wanted to do anything honestly,” Shakib said.

“I don’t see what’s stopping us if we have the willingness (to correct things). If we are willing, I don’t see any reason not to have the DRS, the draft or auction not being held three months in advance, or the teams wouldn’t be confirmed two months in advance. The players are only available for one or two matches. Nobody really knows for how long they are available,” the all-rounder added.