BCB ponders split captaincy

The Bangladesh Cricket Board is pondering the introduction of split captaincy after BCB president Nazmul Hassan suggested that it was the way forward. The matter was extensively discussed during a board meeting on Tuesday, hours after the Bangladesh team capitulated to a 3-0 series loss against West Indies.

Mushfiqur Rahim's leadership is being called into question following the defeat in the West Indies. The loss in the last match against West Indies in St Kitts extended Bangladesh's winless streak in ODIs this year to 13 matches, a decline in performance following an impressive run in 2013.

"We don't want to discuss it since the series is still going on but there is every possibility that in the future we will split the captaincy between the Test and ODI teams," Hassan said.

Mashrafe Mortaza, who has been appointed captain of the Bangladesh men's team for the Asian Games, is being seen as a leading contender to take over the ODI captaincy, having already led the side in the past. Mushfiqur will miss the Asian Games, to be held in September-October in South Korea, due to his wedding.

While Mushfiqur's batting form has remained intact, averaging 37 across three formats this year, his wicketkeeping has been below-par and he missed crucial stumping chances in two successive games recently. The BCB also discussed his selection policy during the meeting, since it is the captain who picks the final XI after the selectors choose the squad.

Hassan said the board had stopped short of "taking decisions" during a series, but he raised several questions on the selection of the team in the West Indies, including the playing XI for the first ODI.

"We wanted to take a number of decisions but thought that since the series is ongoing, it won't be wise to do so," he said. "Considering the opponent, we will get fewer opportunities to be in winning positions, so why can't we make proper use of those?

"We don't interfere in team selection, which is the selectors' jurisdiction. As far as I know, the captain decides the team on the day. No one interferes. But we have some questions about selection in the first ODI against West Indies. We will ask them after the series. I think the team has some strategic issues, too."

The formation of an independent body to oversee matters of the national team was also discussed during the meeting. The committee, likely to be called the technical committee, would be similar to one that existed between 2009 and 2012 and, according to Hassan, would include former players who are not employed by the board, as well as some board directors.

"We can support them [the Bangladesh team] in every way, but they have to perform," he said. "Today we discussed that we can have an independent body, a technical committee made up of outsiders, like former players, and some board members.

"After every series they will talk to the coach and captain. They have the right to speak to any player, and give us an independent assessment. I think we will get a lot of newer ideas."