Rubel’s World Cup in limbo

  • Photo- Dhaka Tribune 

Bangladesh cricketer Rubel Hossain (C) is led away after his bail plea was rejected 
yesterday following allegations that he went back on his promise to marry a film actress 
Photo- Dhaka Tribune  
National cricketer Rubel Hossain was yesterday ordered to go behind bars by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Muhammad Anwar Sadat of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court. As a result, the right-arm paceman’s participation in the 2015 ICC World Cup in Australia-New Zealand has now been thrown into serious jeopardy.
A lower court yesterday sentenced Rubel to jail until the next hearing in a case filed under the Women and Children Repression Act. The order was passed after the 25-year old cricketer surrendered before the court and pleaded for bail. His plea, however, was rejected by the court.
The news came as a shock to the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the entire cricketing arena, especially with the World Cup knocking at the door. Rubel is one of 15 members of the Bangladesh squad scheduled to depart for Brisbane on January 24.
It is no surprise, therefore, that questions are now being asked as to whether the board and its panel of selectors will think of a replacement in case Rubel fails to resolve the issue before the World Cup gets underway on February 14.
BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury informed the media yesterday that it is too early to comment on the issue. The BCB high-up though said discussions on the issue have already been initiated.
“We are discussing the matter so it is quite early to say what we are planning to do,” said Nizamuddin.
“But, so far he has been handling the matter personally. If he fails to join the squad in time, we have a contingency plan in place.”
According to sources, another paceman Shafiul Islam, who was named as a standby by the BCB, will come in if Rubel is unavailable.
Shafiul declined to comment on the issue but said, “I believe I am ready to be a part of the team whenever the call comes.”
It all started on December 13 last year when Naznin Akter Happy, a film actress, filed a case against Rubel at Mirpur Model Thana.
She alleged that Rubel promised to marry her only to backtrack from his promise later on. She also alleged that she shared an intimate relation with the national cricketer.
The law enforcement authorities last month launched a probe after the film actress lodged a complaint against Rubel. Following the filing of the complaint, a court ordered Happy to undertake medical tests and instructed both to undergo DNA tests.
Rubel is the fifth Bangladesh sportsman to be jailed. Former national footballers Kazi Salahuddin, Golam Rabbani Helal, Anwar Hossain and Ashrafuddin Ahmed Chunnu previously went behind bars in 1982 due to assaulting an assistant referee in a domestic game.