DHAKA, Bangladesh, CMC – West Indies’ 10-wicket humiliation of Bangladesh during the group stage of the World Cup will be at the centre of a government enquiry delving into the reasons behind the team’s poor performance.
The country’s Sports Minister Ahad Ali Sarkar said Monday the loss to West Indies and the 206-run rout by South Africa was of great concern to authorities, after the home side failed to qualify for the second round of the tournament.
“We are trying to find the causes behind these humiliating defeats,” Sarkar told a media conference.
“We are also investigating whether there was any apathy in selection of the team ahead of the World Cup.”
Bangladesh, one of the three hosts for the sub-continental showpiece, finished joint fourth in Group B with West Indies on six points but missed out on a quarter-final spot because of an inferior net run rate.
They won three matches including a shock upset of England but went down to India, West Indies and South Africa. The heavy losses to the Windies and South Africa ruined their net run rate.
Their defeat to West Indies – they were dismissed for a World Cup low 58 – sparked an angry response from Bangladeshi fans who stoned the visitors’ team bus believing it to be carrying the home team.
Irate fans also stoned the Magura home of Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan.
Sarkar said the probe would also examine government money given to Bangladesh’s cricket authorities was well used.
“It will also be investigated whether the amount the government money allotted to the Bangladesh Cricket Board for meeting expenses were properly utilised,” he said.
