Sports Desk:

A number of Bangladesh national team players are taking part in various franchise tournaments all over the world, making people wonder if this would actually help the players, in the long run, to get better or if it would just add to their fatigue amidst a hectic schedule of international matches throughout the year without any significant benefit.

Batsman Liton Das and star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan are currently taking part in the Global T20 Canada League, while Mushfiqur Rahim and Taskin Ahmed are playing in the Zimbabwe Afro T10 competition.

This is not the end of the list, as off-spinning all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz has managed a call from English County, and youngster Towhid Hridoy is set to join the Lanka Premier League later this month, where Bangladesh T20I skipper Shakib will also join him.

Liton also took part in the cash-spinning Indian Premier League for the Kolkata Knight Riders earlier this year.

However, the country’s cricket experts opined that featuring in franchise leagues would boost the skill set of Bangladeshi cricketers while providing them with the courage to face any strong opponent in the international arena.

At the same time, they also suggested that the national team players who are playing in the different franchise tournaments should be called back home at least 15 days before any major international events like the Asia Cup or the World Cup so that they can have proper rest and time to recover from fatigue.

They also adviced the Bangladesh Cricket Board to have a specific plan regarding such players so that they don’t suffer from fatigue due to the hectic international schedule as well as playing in the franchise leagues.

‘I don’t see anything wrong with featuring in Twenty20 franchise competitions, as it will help to get our cricketers more skilled,’ said former Bangladesh skipper Khaled Mashud.

‘When they face quality bowlers and batsmen in those competitions and also during training sessions, it will make them brave as well, which will help our cricketers play fearless cricket against any top side in the international arena.’

Citing the examples of Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Mohammad Nabi, Mashud further asserted that these players reached new heights due to playing in different franchise tournaments.

‘No doubt their [cited Afghan cricketers] regular presence in the franchise tournaments across the globe made them more fearless. That’s why they hardly struggle against a top side, and as a result, they have been winning from time to time.’

The former wicketkeeper-batsman believed that the fact that Bangladesh cricketers were being recruited by franchises across various leagues indicated that the cricketing world was keeping a close eye on them due to their consistent performances.

‘It is a good sign for the development of our cricket. And I believe the number of our cricketers playing in different franchise leagues will keep increasing in the future,’ said Mashud.

Apart from the gains from the franchise competitions, a concern of burnout is also there due to playing too many games both domestically and internationally, and the country’s eminent coach and BCB’s former national game development manager, Nazmul Abedin Fahim, believed that it would be of little concern for those players.

Fahim also asserted that the more Bangladeshi players took part in these competitions, the more they would benefit.

‘There is a risk of fatigue, of course, but if they are properly managed by themselves along with BCB, I don’t think it would trouble them,’ said Fahim.

‘When they play in different franchise competitions, they become introduced to new facilities, training, players, and conditions, which is a great opportunity for them and us as well. It’s an ideal platform to take their game to the next level.’