Memories can be bitter, can be sweet. But my memory with Bangladesh cricket is all sweet. I have followed Bangladesh cricket over the last five decades. I am really proud to be eyewitness of many significant milestones of the graduation of Bangladesh cricket to the present level when World recognizes Bangladesh as a potent force in World Cricket.

When I look back in retrospect and recoup memories wonder how cricket in our part of the world have evolved in over five and a half decades. I started following cricket from early sixties being born in 1954.  In 2015 Bangladesh is among the top cricket playing nations. A nation of 160 million now eat, drink and dream cricket. Every single soul right from cricket loving Prime Minister down to the beggars on the street, cheer for Mashrafe squad now. Shakib, Mashrafe, Tamim, Mushfique and even Mustafiz are household names.

How success of a national team in international arena bring all at the same level. Mashrafe and his charges must be credited as the new generation freedom fighters who have helped the country dreaming for an assured future. Yes we will win world cup in cricket in not very distant future. Our fearless brave cricketers are our dream merchants.

These days when I am in some pensive and vacant mood I like to meditate on my cricket passion. I walk back to my childhood days. I used to follow international cricket and Dhaka Cricket since 1965. Regularly used to listen to cricket commentary on radio (mind you that there was no TV coverage). Every winter one visiting team used to have a test match at Dhaka stadium. My father from 1962 used to take me for enjoying the cricket test. I have the memory of Hanif Mohammad scoring twin century in a test match against possibly England. Remember could manage to take his autograph on my “Sportsimes” Cricket magazine. I used to play some cricket for my Faridpur Zilla School and local club. But I was more known for memorizing cricket records. I used to note down every run and every ball on my notebook as a scorer till my notebook and collection of “Sportsimes” were burnt when occupation Pakistan army entered my brothers Mushipara Second Land house in Khulna in mid-April 1971.



It was possibly in 1968 Faridpur and Mymensingh districts were playing in the inter district cricket match at Faridpur Police Line Ground. I was a student of Class IX of Faridpur Zilla School. My father and elder brother were involved in local organization. Zahid Hossain Chowdhury from the local was in Faridpur team. Roquibul Hasan, Aliul Islam, Ali Zahed, Jewel and few other top players of Dhaka league represented Faridpur. Sheikh Kamal was in the reserve. I was one of the local liaison officers for my smart appearance and knowledge of cricket. I remember I developed instant friendship with very cheerful Kamal, Jewel and Roquibul. All three later, joined the liberation war. Jewel embraced martyrdom in a crack platoon Dhaka operation, Kamal was murdered on black August 1975 mid night massacre. Only Roquibul and me are still alive for sharing memories, which we often do on social media chat.

I remember the international match that Roquibul represented before liberation in March 1971. He appeared with a bat inscribed our war shout Joy Bangla as he walked in with Azmat Rana to open the innings. I heard in August September 1971 that he was planning to organize a Swadhin Bangla Cricket team alongside the football team that did so much of opinion building on behalf of Bangladesh Liberation war. But victory came in December 16th and we witnessed surrender of Pakistan Army at Ramna.

I remember early days of Bangladesh cricket. I remember how Cricket Bangladesh survived strong opposition of shallow vision of sports organizers immediately after liberation. I still remember what role Late Damal Bhai, Rois Bhai, Reza Bhai, Quamruzzaman Bhai, Tawfique Aziz Bhai, Makhon Bhai, Bahauddin Shaheb, Cesar Bhai, KZ Islam and off course the first generation of Bangladeshi cricketers played.

The memory of Quamruzzaman Bhai walking with the English Journalist Robin Marler into Dhaka stadium and explaining him about the creation of the ground for staging the first ever cricket test between India and Pakistan still remains in my memory. I was lucky eyewitness as the youngest member of the Bangladesh Krira Lekhkah Samity. I remember Robin Marler wrote a very useful story in English daily “Guardian” which laid the foundation for MCC team visiting Bangladesh in 1974.



I can still remember Shamim Kabir and Roquibul Hasan walking in to open the innings.  We bunked examination at BUET. Bangladesh was born to international cricket. Remember the flamboyant batting of Yusuf Babu and equally attractive innings of Jahangir Shah Badsha. Remember the guiles of young Nazmul Qauder Linto –the left arm Chinaman bowler our neighbor in Azimpur Colony.

Bangladesh started graduating. The early days were all struggle. Bangladesh could not prove much competitive. Visiting sides used to thrash inexperienced Bangladesh very easily. I remember after a trashing against Sri Lanka at Faridpur Stadium one of my very good poet cum sports writer Sanaul Huq Khan wrote “Want Court Marshall of Cricket”. He is an ardent lover of sports. He was shocked and wrote it out of love.

I was eyewitness of the unfortunate incident at Chittagong stadium in the Majid Khan led Pakistan’s team matches. On a very trifling matter serious crowd violence forced abandonment of the match. I was watching the match sitting beside General Manzoor and Imran Khan. Had to rush and protect Mohsin Khan getting struck on the head. At one stage, I was alone in the Pakistan dressing room consoling them. Later in Krirajagat I wrote “Cricket Crucified”.

I remember by the time MCC sent their team for second visit Bangladesh cricket was better organized. The real turning around came when a very sophisticated Bangladesh team went to play its first ICC Associate members qualification tournament in England in 1979. I joined Titas Gas by that time. I was sharing apartment with by brother like friend Roquibul Hasan. Cesar Bhai the Manager of the team made the team live at Naval HQ and train in a disciplined environment. I was very friendly with each member of the team and used to spend time almost regularly in the camp on my way back from inspection of Tongi Savar gas pipeline construction.

That team played wonderfully well in ICC world Cup Qualifying matches and narrowly missed getting into main round. But the mannerism and gamesmanship of the team led by Shafiqul Huq Heera was greatly appreciated in English Media.

I remember the day Akram Khan led Bangladesh team won the ICC Associate members championship at Kuala Lumpur. I was supervising Ashuganj Bakhrabad Gas Pipeline Construction by an Australian Company McConnell Dowell beside Titas River. When the winning strike was struck by Rafique or Pilot (cannot exactly remember) jumped into Titas River with joy.

Remember the day Bangladesh beat very strong Pakistan team at its first world cup appearance. We were travelling along Shabazpur (Bhola) to Digholia (Khulna) US Company UNOCAL proposed gas pipeline route. My two sons Shuvro and Avro made me join midnight victory procession in Khulna, the city incidentally where I had some involvement in 1971 liberation war planning.

Remember a short structured soft-spoken Aminul Islam (Bulbul) scoring a memorable century against India in very first test of Bangladesh at Dhaka. Our joy knew no bounds watching Bubul carrying World Cup in to MCG when Bangladesh played its first match ever at MCG in World Cup 2015 against Sri Lanka.

I followed Bangladesh during 2003 world cup from the lay barge in the Bay of Bengal as we were rehabilitating a section of Gas pipeline from offshore platform of Shangu offshore gas field. Bangladesh unfortunately played poorly in that world cup in South Africa.

I had to leave Bangladesh in 2005 and migrate to Australia. Never forgot monitoring the progress of Bangladesh cricket.

The glory returned in 2007 World Cup in West Indies. Bangladesh beat very strong India. The heroes Mashrafe, Tamim, Shakib and Mushfiqur are the established star in Bangladesh now. Bangladesh also had their only victory in the same World cup. Two of the heroes Mohammad Ashraful and Abdur Razzak for different reasons are not in the team.

Bangladesh was a cohost on 2011 world cup. We did not have a particularly memorable appearance other than beating England. But before the cup Bangladesh white washed strong New Zealand.

2013 was another great year for the tigers maturing. New Zealand was again white washed. Bangladesh almost won Asian Cup Championship defeating India and Sri Lanka. But lost the final very narrowly against Pakistan.

2014 was mixed year of bittersweet experience. Failed to repeat the performance of earlier year in Asian Cup, lost most matches in T20 World cup, had a forgettable West Indies tour. But things started turning around. Zimbabwe was comprehensively beaten in all formats tests, ODI and T20s.

Bangladesh had a memorable world cup experience in 2015 qualifying strongly in the quarterfinal for the first time defeating Afghanistan, Scotland and England along the way and competing brilliantly against New Zealand. Bangladesh had to finish on the wrong side in the quarterfinal for unfortunate umpiring decisions in the quarterfinal match at MCG against India.

Bangladesh whipped strong Pakistan with a series whitewash in ODI and won the lone T20. It followed its success against India winning the first ever ODI series 2-1.



I remember Ashraful scoring Century against great Chaminda Vaas and Muralitharan included Sri Lankan attack being the youngest ever test player doing that. I am aware of his brilliant century leading to only ODI win against Australia. I am also aware of Tamim Iqbal scoring century at Lords against England and following it up with another century in the same series.  I am very much aware of all achievements of ICC top ranked all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan.

I also know about consistent Mushfiqur Rahim. I know about his double century and a great partnership with Ashraful against Sri Lanka. I am aware of the prowess of little bird Mominul Haque. I have seen the meteoric emergence of wonder boy Mustafiz and dynamic Taskin. I have to mention Mahamudullah for his two lovely back-to-back world cup centuries and Rubel for his aggressive bowling. I have seen how Soumya Sarkar and Shabbir are rocking and how brilliant is Nasir Hossain. The present Bangladesh team is rocking.

These have come with a price. Several persons from behind the scene contributed. Many great coaches, trainers worked day in and day out to take cricket from nursery to this level. We must remember them. There must be Cricket Museum like LORDS Museum.

Today the 5 July 2015 Bangladesh is playing T20 against a very strong South African team. It is a day for the tigers for reflecting on its very strong cricket foundation as can be read from above. It can be a day for achieving another feather to its crown. How great it would be if Mashrafe squad can win again and go ahead winning the series against a top team once more.

I know it is difficult but not impossible. Braves never die before death and this team is brave.

Let sun keep shining on the Roaring Tigers. Let two moons tonight witness a dancing Bangladesh on Dhaka streets.

BDST: 0854 HRS, JULY 05, 2015
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