Bangladesh board steps in for damage control

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) calls for a meeting with the six team players who reportedly want to join the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL).

Bangladesh's most successful captain, Habibul Bashar, has admitted that he in talks with the rebel Indian Cricket League.

DHAKA // The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has called for a meeting with the six team players who reportedly want to join the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL). Habibul Bashar, Aftab Ahmed, Shahriar Nafees Ahmed, Farhad Reza, Dhiman Ghosh and Musharraf Hossain resigned on Sunday, and the BCB hope to meet with them today.

"The Board attaches great importance to the matter and expresses its concern at the abrupt decision by so many players to retire from the game," a statement said. "As the reasons for their intention to retire were not stated in their respective letters, we have instructed the players to appear in person at the Board's office." Bashar, 36, Bangladesh's most successful captain, confirmed he was in talks with the ICL. Bashar led the country to their maiden Test win and 29 one-day international victories.

"I don't know about the others, but speaking for myself, I can say I have received a proposal from the ICL and am talking with them," he said. "However, nothing has been finalised as yet." Meanwhile, Shane Warne has criticised Andrew Symonds for showing a lack of respect to the Australian team. Warne said Symonds let the side down when he reportedly chose to go fishing instead of attending a mandatory team meeting.

Warne, no stranger to controversy, said the only way Symonds would rebuild respect among his Australian teammates was to return as a "better person" and win back his test spot. He also said Symonds should not be tempted to quit international cricket for a full-time contract with the Twenty20 IPL. "I would be disappointed if he took the easy option and just threw it away," he said. "The hard option that will earn him some respect is to come back a better person and show how important playing for Australia is to him."

* Agencies