Khaled Mahmud Sujon, a customary captain of the Bangladesh national cricket personnel, has held many roles, including coach and BCB director. To many in Bangladesh’s cricket scene, he’s recognized as ‘Chacha’ (uncle). Within the inaugurate, this nickname got here from a miles off relative and teammate right in the course of the Below-19 stage, however over time, he became ‘Chacha’ to many. In a literal sense, he has been a guardian figure to many cricketers. From Mahmudullah Riyad to Mehrab Hossain Jr., Forhad Reza, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Soumya Sarkar, Towhid Hridoy, and Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Sujon has performed a critical role in shaping their careers.
At one point, Sujon changed into once even called a father figure for bringing in gamers straight and providing them with alternatives. His high-tail in Bangladesh cricket, as a player, organiser, and coach, spans many years. After retiring from playing, this customary all-rounder took up a job at the BCB, within the spoil becoming a director. He has also served in varied capacities, including interim head coach, assistant coach, national personnel supervisor, and personnel director.
In 2013, Sujon became a BCB director through elections and has since been serving as the chairman of sport pattern. He changed into once also the vice-chairman of the cricket operations division. On the other hand, he now now not holds these positions. On Wednesday, Sujon resigned from his role as BCB director, citing private causes. About a days before this, Sujon spoke with The Trade Long-established, discussing his playing occupation, instructing and organisational roles, successes and failures, his ardour for nurturing cricketers, and Bangladesh’s recent standing in Take a look at cricket.
Sujon shared that his organising intuition changed into once with him from a young age, asserting, “I did now not originate out pondering I would maybe grow to be an organiser. Even when I changed into once a player, I had a knack for searching after pretty a couple of gamers, keeping an gape on the clubs, and building groups. After I ended playing, I moved into instructing. After I work with any membership, I possess a call; I would maybe like determined forms of gamers. I am with Beximco, and I oversee several of Beximco’s groups.”
“As the head of instructing for Beximco, I gape after their first, 2nd, and third division groups. There’s also the Premier League personnel, Shinepukur, and now Gulshan. When building a personnel, I tackle budgeting, figuring out the personnel’s composition, the keep aside the gamers will spoil, what they’ll devour – I am desirous about every thing. Whether or now not that makes me an organiser, I construct now not know. I’ve performed cricket and been around it for so many years. I admire being alive to with cricket, it makes me contented. After I’m in a position to present an opportunity to a player, it affords me joy. When somebody from outside Dhaka performs, I in point of fact feel proud that I changed into once ready to inspire them upward push.” he acknowledged.
Sujon believes that the management expertise he developed as a player inspire him in his instructing and organisational roles. In his phrases, “All of it helps. After I changed into once staunch a player, I did now not possess to judge about so many issues. Nonetheless when I became a captain, I surely needed to direct with every player for my half. Within the national personnel, I needed to be even more alive to. That expertise helps me vastly now. Ensuing from these management qualities, I’m in a position to tackle issues effectively. If somebody is doubtlessly now not doing effectively, I focus on over with them one-on-one and verify out to inspire. In Abahani, my relationship with the gamers is more healthy than that of staunch a coach. Our conversations are more like these between a father and son. I know a lot about their private lives, and we focus on about these issues too.”
In 2007, after retiring from cricket, Sujon joined the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) as the Operations Manager of the Cricket Academy (now recognized as the HP unit), the keep aside he served for four and a half years. Sujon described his expertise as follows: “After I retired, I joined the BCB as an worker. I changed into once the Operations Manager of the Cricket Academy, which changed into once around 2007. I worked at the Board for four and a half years, serving as every Operations Manager and National Coach. Later, I became the Head Coach of the Bangladesh ‘A’ personnel. Though I changed into once mute the Operations Manager, I held several pretty a couple of positions at the same time.”
Though he changed into once the head of 1 division, Sujon steadily aimed to inspire the whole divisions at the BCB. He defined, “After working as an interim BCB director, I changed into once elected to the Board. Here, I am the Chairman of Sport Style, and Vice-Chairman of the Cricket Operations Department, and at times, I possess also chaired the Tournament Committee and the Umpires’ Committee (on an interim foundation). After being elected, I changed into once given the Sport Style accountability and were working in that role since then. Previously, I feeble to inspire the whole departments. I inspire Nadel Bhai within the Girls americans’s Division, and I am also alive to with the Tournament Committee. If the committee doesn’t possess a head, I would maybe rob the lead. I inspire Inam bhai with the Bengal Tigers.”
Sujon persisted, “I construct now not mediate one desires to be the chairman of a division to work. I possess steadily maintained relationships with everyone and worked on varied issues. Perchance now the chairmen don’t call or don’t in point of fact feel the possess to, however earlier, I feeble to be desirous about miniature responsibilities for every committee. I mediate that, as a director, one must mute possess tasks in every division. I admire working in cricket, whether or now not I preserve a chair. The ideal areas I possess by no methodology been desirous about are logistics or finance. Since I am based within the self-discipline, my work has steadily been self-discipline-centric.”
Reflecting on his expertise as a BCB director, Sujon acknowledged, “I by no methodology idea I needed to grow to be a director of the cricket board. My chums and effectively-wishers encouraged me to drag for the site. At the time, I did now not possess a membership, and everyone at the membership I changed into once affiliated with wanted to elect me. Then the gamers’ quota changed into once launched, and Lipu bhai changed into once accountable. I puzzled if I would maybe stand in opposition to Lipu bhai, as he had been on the Board for a extraordinarily very long time. On the other hand, everyone gave me the courage to drag for the site. I made up my suggestions and became very taking into account the election because of I by no methodology like to lose. I’ve steadily fought to catch, no matter the fight.”
“I needed to marketing and marketing campaign on my get, as I did now not possess worthy inspire. I travelled outside Dhaka, within the hunt for votes from everyone. I worked very hard right through that time and received in opposition to Lipu bhai by a neat margin, which changed into once a ample shock for me. Since then, I were on the Board, working essentially as the head of Sport Style. The Style Department has considered critical success. Many participants direct about the pipeline with out recordsdata, however there are mute gamers within the pipeline. On the other hand, I need to admit that the companies I needed possess now not yet been established. There is a lack in that regard. As an organiser or director, I possess now not been successful because of I would maybe now not construct the building wished for a solid pipeline.”
As the head of Sport Style, Sujon takes colossal pride within the Below-19 personnel. Pointing out their World Cup and Asia Cup victories, he acknowledged, “If we focus on about success, the Below-19 World Cup catch is unquestionably one in every of the ideal. It is the ideal achievement within the history of Bangladesh cricket. Even though or now not it is at the junior stage, we are world champions. In one dwelling, we are world champions, and that’s at the Below-19 stage. It took site below my supervision as the committee chairman. It be one thing I am very contented with. We also became champions within the Below-19 Asia Cup, which is one other proud moment for me. Below my supervision, several clubs possess moved up from the predominant division to the premier league, which is one other achievement for me. Sheikh Jamal changed into once the unbeaten champion, and I changed into once their coach. I also coached Shinepukur, who were undefeated champions, and in that personnel, Towhid Hridoy performed within the Dhaka League for the predominant time. These achievements elevate me colossal delight. As an organiser, I have been alive to with several clubs and possess brought many cricketers to Dhaka, which I rob into consideration one other success.”
For Sujon, scouting cricketers from pretty a couple of substances of the country and giving them alternatives seems like an dependancy. In his phrases, “Since I work on cricket outside Dhaka and were desirous about an academy called Bangla Track in Rajshahi for the previous 10-12 years, I see loads of expertise there. As an illustration, every Towhid Hridoy and Tanzid Hasan Tamim were before every thing now not fragment of the Below-19 personnel. These two are gamers from my academy, and when I saw them, I asked how these two boys were disregarded. On my recommendation, they were integrated within the personnel, and I changed into once the Chairman of Sport Style at the time. These two are now among the many simplest gamers in Bangladesh. It feels in point of fact real when I judge about it now.”
“In Rajshahi, I see many boys from underprivileged households who can’t even possess the funds for sneakers or bats, however they’re wonderful cricketers. I brought them to Dhaka and gave them alternatives in loads of groups. A number of them possess advanced from the 2nd division to the predominant division or Premier League. Ensuing from their conditions, they would maybe by no methodology possess made it to Dhaka in every other case. Hridoy, as an illustration, grew up playing for Shinepukur. If that personnel hadn’t existed or if I hadn’t been accountable, I would maybe now not were ready to give Hridoy that chance. Many participants work for Bangladesh cricket with out within the hunt for private originate. They drag the groups, and I mediate that with out the Dhaka League, Bangladesh cricket mustn’t possess attain this a long way. Folk focus on a lot about the BPL, however it got here staunch the pretty a couple of day. It be more of an entertainment league. Folk that drag and sponsor groups within the predominant, 2nd, or third divisions of the Dhaka League deserve the ideal reward. It be because of of them that Bangladesh cricket has reached this stage. Beximco Neighborhood and Gazi Neighborhood are one of the most main contributors.”
Recalling memories of working a native membership right through his formative years, the customary captain acknowledged, “We feeble to drag a neighbourhood membership, so I understand how subtle it changed into once. I brought umpire Mukul (Masudur Rahman Mukul) from Faridpur to play for our neighbourhood membership. We had fashioned a qualifying personnel called Siddheshwari Krira Sangha. We would retain Mukul and one other player at a chum’s dwelling because of we would maybe now not possess the funds for to keep aside them up in a resort. Our chums and I managed the personnel collectively. So, as you would possibly maybe additionally see, I have been an organiser since a in point of fact very long time. Organising changed into once steadily in me from a young age, and my high-tail has been an extended one. I attain from a heart-class family, and playing cricket changed into once tricky for us. My father did now not possess the money to acquire me a bat or sneakers. I understand how subtle it is a long way for a boy.”
As a child of a heart-class family, Sujon had his get struggles with cricket. He described it like this, “My father did now not prefer me to play because of he changed into all over again pondering about my reports. After I became the captain of the Bangladesh Below-19 personnel for the England tour, my father changed into once nervous. He acknowledged, ‘When did you originate playing cricket like this and grow to be the captain?’ I feeble to screen my bat and apparel in pretty a couple of shops and sneak out to play cricket. When my father at closing realised what I had done, he changed into once very contented with me. Nonetheless overall, I understand how hard it changed into once. In our time, we did now not gather paid. After I would maybe quiz for money, I would maybe usually gather scolded. They’d neglect after giving their time, and I feeble to truly feel like a beggar. We went through so worthy hardship for fifty thousand or one lakh taka.”
Whereas sharing reports of discovering gamers like Mahmudullah, Taskin, and Mustafizur, Sujon acknowledged, “When Taskin feeble to bowl within the nets as a young boy, I in point of fact liked him. He changed into once staunch a kid, however he bowled fleet within the nets, and it changed into once wonderful to glimpse. I first gave him an opportunity within the BPL with Chittagong Kings, the keep aside I changed into once the coach. Everyone acknowledged he changed into once staunch a young boy, uncooked and inexperienced, and hadn’t performed worthy. The day before I performed him, there changed into once some stress within the personnel, as no one changed into once willing to let him play. Nonetheless I fought to give him an opportunity, and in his first match, he took four wickets. From there, Taskin developed into a big player.”
“With Mustafiz, Chandika Hathurusingha got here to me soliciting for a left-arm fleet bowler. Mustafiz changed into once already playing for the national personnel, as he had that ability. Nonetheless I am now not determined if he would possess debuted so soon. I in point of fact handy every Abu Hider Rony and Mustafiz to Hathurusingha. When he asked about their qualities, I shared my insights. Then Hathurusingha wanted to see Mustafiz bowl. I called Mustafiz and asked him to be half of the Bangladesh nets in Dhaka. After staunch six deliveries, Hathurusingha got here to me and acknowledged, ‘He’ll play within the T20 in opposition to Pakistan.'”
Sujon doesn’t are searching to rob credit score for these moments. He sees himself as a bridge between cricketers and the personnel. Talking about introducing Soumya to Hathurusingha and helping several senior gamers gather alternatives, Sujon acknowledged, “I’ve launched a couple of gamers. I launched Soumya to Hathurusingha. For the time being, Soumya changed into once playing for Top Monetary institution Cricket Membership. I told Hathurusingha, since you are buying for a top-reveal batsman, there would possibly maybe be a boy who bats in point of fact effectively. That day, Soumya performed effectively within the Premier League, and Hathurusingha saw his innings and told me he would be within the personnel. So, I acted as a bridge. Nonetheless Hridoy, Tamim, they were straight my gamers.”
“Going support even extra, I brought up gamers like Mahmudullah Riyad, Arafat Sunny, Mehrab Hossain Junior, and Forhad Reza very closely. Many feeble to impart I changed into once like their father, and I loved that at the time. I performed for City Membership for a year. Even even though I performed effectively, the personnel kept losing, despite having senior, effectively-recognized cricketers. After being approached by the personnel, I told them, ‘I am the captain, and I am performing. Whereas you happen to quiz me, I received’t play any of the senior gamers. I are searching to play the kids.’ That is when I talked about Mehrab, Riyad, and Abir (Shahriar Nafees). After that, we received 9 consecutive suits with that personnel. In head-to-head opponents, we accomplished runners-up. So, I’ve helped elevate up many cricketers.”
Recalling the anecdote of how he became recognized as “Chacha” (Uncle) to many cricketers, Sujon acknowledged, “After we feeble to play Below-19 cricket, there changed into once a player named Sheikh Halim Shah who feeble to call me brother. Within the future, he asked if I knew anybody named Ayna-Moyna. I did now not, so he told me to quiz my father. After I purchased dwelling, I asked my father who Ayna-Moyna changed into once. My father acknowledged, ‘Ayna-Moyna are your aunts, my sisters.’ They were distant family. Later, I told Halim Shah that Ayna-Moyna were my aunts. He then acknowledged, ‘They’re my grandmothers, so that makes you my uncle.’ That is the keep aside all of it started. From then on, an increasing number of of us started calling me Chacha, and within the spoil, the title caught.”
Talking about the reveal of regional cricket after Bangladesh received Take a look at station, Sujon defined, “We possess now not been ready to inspire the companies or develop an right building. Things like building indoor coaching centres or new grounds have not been done. To construct real gamers, you wish real companies. The national personnel trains in Dhaka, the keep aside 25-30 gamers can practise, however others, just like the females’s or Below-19 groups, handiest gather the chance every so usually. We prefer such companies all the plot in which in the course of the country. A boy in Chandpur has to achieve support to Dhaka to bat, as there are no such alternatives outside. Here is my be apologetic about—that I would maybe now not inspire these items while working in sport pattern. Our Take a look at cricket tradition hasn’t grown or advanced as a result of this.”
Reflecting on the variations between being a cricketer and a coach, he shared, “As a player, I loved it, however there changed into once also loads of frustration. I judge I am doubtlessly the most convenient national personnel player to were dropped 10 times and returned 10 times in a short span. If I had one glum performance, I changed into once dropped, with many participants steadily in opposition to me. Even after being the head all-rounder in a tournament, I changed into once dropped while senior cricketers remained. I handiest came all the plot in which through out later why and how I changed into once dropped. As a child, I steadily spoke my suggestions, and a lot idea I changed into once low, however I changed into once staunch being factual. No matter all this, I cherished playing. Teaching, on the different hand, comes with pretty a couple of tasks, like building a personnel and setting methods, however being a player changed into once more challenging. Though I dwell admire instructing too.”
