The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Thursday expressed condolence at the death of a mathematician and statistician Tony Lewis.

Lewis was 78.

Lewis is the co-creator of the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method for deciding weather-affected limited-overs matches in the game of cricket.

BCB CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury said Tony Lewis revolutionised the cricket with a method that is considered the fairest in settling weather-interrupted games.

His contribution will be forever remembered, he added.

Lewis and fellow statistician Frank Duckworth had co-devised the system originally called the Duckworth-Lewis method which was first used in 1997 and officially endorsed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 1999.

The system calculates targets based on the batting team's wickets in hand, and overs in hand via mathematical formulas.

In 2014, Prof Steven Stern of Australia’s Bond University   became the custodian of the system following the retirements of Duckworth and Lewis.

Top 91 Bangladeshi cricketers, who are contracted with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) as the First-class ones, decided to donate their 15-day salary to help the poor people who have been suffering due to crisis created over coronavirus pandemic. 

The donation will go to the fund of the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) who earlier called for an initiative to help the underprivileged people across the country during this crisis. 

“We will try to extend this initiative to as many places as possible. We have a strong base in more than 30 districts. We understand it’s a big challenge to overcome the current situation created over coronavirus. But we believe it’s possible [to tackle the situation] if we extend our helping hand,” Debabrata Paul, member secretary of CWAB, told UNB.

At the same time, he urged people to contribute to this fund. He said, “It’s a big challenge. We will try to help the people at the Upazila level. So I would like to request interested people to contribute to the fund  so that we can reach as many people as possible.”

All the cricketing events of Bangladesh are on halt due to the outbreak of the virus which has left many cricketers jobless. In response to this situation, BCB decided to help the cricketers with a one-time financial aid which will be applied for both men and women cricketers. 

Meanwhile, more than 9 lakh people were tested positive for coronavirus around the globe and more than 47000 died. As per the latest update on Mar 2, Bangladesh identified 56 people who are infected with the coronavirus while six of them have died.

In an effort to keep cricketers fit during the holidays announced to curb the spread of COVID-19, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has designed a guideline for maintaining a basic level of fitness and conditioning as well as mental health. 

All cricketing activities remain suspended in the country including domestic tournaments and preparation camps.

The BCB is mindful of the challenges the cricketers will face when they return to the field and the guideline has been prepared as a priority. The exercise instructions from BCB’s Head of Physical Performance Nick Lee are easy to follow at home even if someone does not have access to fitness equipment or a gym. 

The National Team players have been given a specialised programme. A general guideline and day by day workout plan is available to all cricketers through the Board’s official digital platforms. A sudden return to cricket after a prolonged lay off raises risks of injury. That is why the Board expects the players to make the best use of this initiative.

The Board also acknowledges the need for mental support during these difficult times. Accordingly, the BCB medical team has developed a Mental Health document for the players which is also accessible on the BCB’s official website and facebook page.

The Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB), a platform of former and current cricketers, has decided to support the poor people during the coronavirus crisis.

They formed two committees -- Advisory Committee and Convening Committee -- comprising current and former star cricketers, cricket organisers and fans. 

The first Test captain of Bangladesh, Naimur Rahman Durjoy, current Test captain Mominul Haque and ODI captain Tamim Iqbal are involved in this initiative, confirmed a CWAB spokesman.

In a press release on Wednesday, CWAB said it has formed new committees to raise funds to help the poor during this crisis that has left many day labourers, roadside tea stall owners, street hawkers and others who live from hand to mouth in dire situations.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Nazmul Hassan Papon will lead the committee as the chief advisor while former captain of Bangladesh National Cricket team Naimur Rahman Durjoy MP will lead the main committee as convener. 

“We will try to extend this initiative to as many places as possible. We have a strong base in more than 30 districts. We understand it’s a big challenge to overcome the current situation created by coronavirus. But we believe it’s possible [to tackle the situation] if we extend a helping hand,” Debabrata Paul, the member secretary of CWAB, told UNB on Wednesday.

At the same time, he urged people to contribute to this initiative. He said: “It’s a big challenge. We will try to help the people at the upazila level. So I would like to request interested people to contribute to the initiative so that we can reach as many people as possible.”

Earlier, the top 27 cricketers of the country donated their 15-day salary to help the people who have lost their jobs or who lead a hand-to-mouth life. The initiative was taken by Bangladesh ODI captain Tamim Iqbal. 

Bank details to contribute CWAB initiative: 

One Bank Limited, Dhanmondi Branch, Dhaka, Bangladesh. 

Account Name: Cricketers welfare association of Bangladesh (CWAB), 

Account No: 0130105469004, Swift code: ONEBBDDH, RN No: 165261184 

Members of Advisory Committee: Nazmul Hasan Papon MP (Chief Adviser), Tanvir Mazharul Islam Tanna, Enayet Hossain Siraj and Ahmed Sajjadul Alam Bobby (advisers).

Members of Convening Committee: Naimur Rahman Durjoy (Convener), Khaled Mhmud Shujon, ,Tamim Iqbal and Mominul Haque (joint conveners).

Members: Raquibul Hasan, Akram Khan, Minhajul Abedin Nannu, Habibul Bashar Sumon, Iftekhar Rahman Mithu, Ziauddin Ahmed Shovon, GM Faisal Hossain Robin, AKM Ahsanullah Hasan, Nafees Iqbal, Rajin Saleh and Debabrotho Paul (Member Secretary).

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced a one-time monetary allowance of BDT 20,000.00 (Twenty Thousand Taka) per person to assist women cricketers who had appeared in the 2018-19 Women’s NCL and were part of the BCB’s selection camps in 2019-20.

All cricketing activities of the BCB including women’s tournaments and training camps have been postponed indefinitely due to outbreak of deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country and all over the world.

BCB President Nazmul Hassan, MP said on Monday: “Just like their male counterparts, the majority of women cricketers also look towards domestic events for earning. Besides, we had training camps scheduled for women players which have been hampered by the prevailing COVID-19  situation. The cricketers have been forced to pass a period of non-activity and they need our support.” 

Earlier on last Saturday, BCB announced one-time financial aid for the men’s players who are not included in Bangladesh’s central contract or first-class contract of the board.

BCB president Nazmul Hassan decided to extend the board’s helping hand for the men’s cricketers who are not contracted and to give them 30,000 BDT each.

“With the tournament and league looking at an indefinite period of shut down, cricketers who are not part of the BCB’s contracts are likely to face financial hardship as they may have only received partial payment from their respective Premier League Clubs. This assistance is for that section of the players,” Nazmul said in the press release.

There are at least 60 players who will get this financial aid, a close source of BCB told the media.

Along with cricket, all the sporting events in the country have been postponed indefinitely. Before that, BCB had to postpone a two-match T20Is series between Asia XI and World XI which was scheduled to take place to celebrate the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Earlier, 27 top cricketers including national pool players donated their half month salary for the country's Coronavirus fund.