New Delhi, Mar 1 (NationPress) Former captain of Bangladesh's cricket team, Habibul Bashar, has voiced his doubts regarding his application for the national selection panel, following the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) unprecedented public call for candidates. This decision comes in light of Gazi Ashraf Hossain's resignation after his two-year term as chief selector. Although Bashar has been seen as a frontrunner for the role, the BCB has announced the opening of two positions on the selection panel, with a submission deadline of March 8.

Bashar, who previously held a selector role for eight years under Faruque Ahmed and Minhajul Abedin, is currently considering his options due to his ongoing responsibilities in the BCB's game development program. He stated, “I am uncertain about whether to submit my CV. Since I am already working with the BCB, I need to evaluate why I would need to apply before making a final decision,” as he shared with Cricbuzz.

Nazmul Abedin, the chairman of BCB's cricket operations, clarified that the initiative to open the selection process aims to foster transparency and widen the pool of talent. “The goal is to identify qualified individuals who may have been overlooked. We want to assess their capabilities, which will make the selection process more equitable,” Nazmul elaborated.

He also mentioned that the board's intention is to select the most qualified candidates while recognizing potential selectors for future roles. “Ultimately, we will choose those we deem most fit. This process allows us to identify more candidates, and if anyone can demonstrate their eligibility, that is beneficial. We may appoint two selectors this time, but we will also learn about others interested within our system,” he noted.

Nazmul further highlighted that this approach is part of the BCB's long-term strategy to enhance its selection framework across various levels of the game. “In the future, we will require additional selectors, whether regionally, at age-group levels, or for women's cricket,” he stated.

While having leadership experience is vital for the selection panel head, Nazmul acknowledged that former national captains typically possess attributes that make them suitable candidates. “Preference will certainly be given to former national captains, but we will consider all candidates based on their leadership qualities, experience, and knowledge,” he added.

The BCB has recently granted Ashraf a one-month extension to maintain continuity while the process to appoint his successor and expand the selection panel is underway.