Greenidge may be dropped ahead of today's tie (31 May 1999)
LONDON, May 30: Gordon Greenidge will be informed later this evening by an official letter, in all probability signed by manager Tanveer Muzhar Islam, that the West Indian has been dropped from Bangla-desh's World Cup squad
31-May-1999
31 May 1999
Greenidge may be dropped ahead of today's tie
Nizamuddin Ahmed
LONDON, May 30: Gordon Greenidge will be informed later this evening
by an official letter, in all probability signed by manager Tanveer
Muzhar Islam, that the West Indian has been dropped from Bangla-desh's
World Cup squad.
BCB president Saber Hossain Chowdhury will reach Northampton later
today to finalise the matter, according to sources close to the
Bangladesh team, now camped in Northampton to face Pakistan tomorrow
in the last match of the group stage.
If such a letter is delivered to the West Indian coach of Bangladesh,
employed by BCB since October 1996 as Director of Coaching, it will be
the end of a bumpy road.
Although the legendary batsman was received with popular applause on
his induction as the Bangladesh coach, his stay with the team has not
been a smooth affair.
Whether this will mean the end of his tenure as the Director of
Coaching, a contract that terminates next month, will be a decision
that the BCB will take after the World Cup.
So adverse was the relationship between Greenidge and the board that
there had been speculation even before he left for England with the
World Cup squad that he may not return to Dhaka.
It was not immediately clear who would replace Gordon, if at all, for
the match against Pakistan.
In addition to the Greenidge drama, there may be some fireworks when
the team for tomorrow's match is announced later tonight. However,
contrary to earlier reports, Aminul Islam in all likelihood will
retain his place in the eleven in spite of his lacklustre performance
in the last four matches.
"But, there could still be major changes," confided one
selector. Under fire are Aminul Islam, Akram Khan, Faruque Ahmed and
vice-captain Khaled Mahmud.
Hasibul Hossain may have to rest tomorrow to find a place for as-yet
uncapped Shafiuddin Ahmed. Neeyamur Rashid is also likely to get the
nod in his place.
Rain forced Bangladesh indoors today and the team did not have its
usual practice session. Rain also forced yesterday's England-India to
this morning. A similar fate could await Bangladesh and Pakistan. In
case of wet weather the match will move on to Tuesday, failing which
the teams will earn a point each.
There was no fitness problem in the Bangladesh team. Contrary to press
reports, Minhazul Abedin was not 'sick'. He was running a very light
fever on the day of the match against Australia. He was cleared fit
and performed commendably with an unbeaten fifty.
Bangladesh will bat first against Pakistan if given the
choice. Bangladesh played against Northampton in an official
warm-match in mid-May on the very ground they will meet Pakistan
tomorrow. The teams had then scored five hundred runs, which would
suggest this was a batting track.
Source :: The Bangladesh Daily Star (https://www.dailystarnews.com)