For cricket, there was no pathway to success. The absence of
Test status loomed as an insurmountable barrier, rendering the sport a pastime
rather than a profession. Visionaries like Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu, Yousuf
Babu, Aminul Islam, Minhazul Abedin, and Akram Khan tried to ignite the
flames of aspiration, yet their efforts often dissipated like the morning
dew—momentary, fleeting, and overshadowed by the harsh realities of the
time.
A Nation Adrift
In those years, Bangladesh was a footballing nation.
Streets, fields, and hearts were dominated by the beautiful game. Cricket was
relegated to an afterthought, its place on the national stage marginal at best.
To dream of Bangladesh as a Test-playing nation felt like wishful thinking—impossible,
unattainable.
The road to Test cricket was clear, but it was also
treacherous: Bangladesh had to make its mark in the ICC Trophy, a proving
ground for aspiring nations. However, early performances in the tournament were
disappointing, and the dream of playing alongside the likes of Australia,
England, or India seemed ever distant.
Personal Struggles
and Quiet Defiance
I remember those days vividly. In 1992, like many others my
age, I played cricket in the narrow gullies of Dhaka. But every six hit or
wicket taken came at a price—a torrent of scolding from family members who saw
no future in the game.
One evening, I returned home late after a spirited game,
only to face a barrage of criticism. “Give up playing cricket! Bangladesh has
no future in cricket,” they said, the words cutting like a blade.
But I refused to accept this narrative. To my sister, I said
with quiet conviction, “Things will change someday. Wasim, Waqar, Lara, and
Tendulkar will come to play in Dhaka.”
Her response? A dismissive laugh and a single word: “Kochu!”(nonsense).
The Turning
Point
Fast forward to March 15, 2017. Bangladesh stood on the
cusp of playing their 100th Test match. From the margins of the cricketing
world to the grandest stage of them all, the Tigers had clawed their way
forward, defying odds, sceptics, and their own limitations.
For those of us who lived through the days when Bangladesh
cricket was an afterthought, this milestone was profoundly emotional. We bore
witness to the transformation—from being a team that struggled to qualify for
ICC tournaments to competing with the giants of the game. The journey was
anything but easy.
The Spirit of the
Tigers
The path to Test status was littered with obstacles, yet
Bangladesh’s cricketers persevered. They won hearts with grit and resilience,
enduring losses, learning from defeats, and slowly earning the respect of the
cricketing world.
Every victory, every milestone, and every individual
performance carried the weight of a nation’s dreams. Aminul Islam’s century in
Bangladesh’s inaugural Test against India, Habibul Bashar’s fearless batting,
and Shakib Al Hasan’s rise as one of the finest all-rounders in the world**
became symbols of what was possible.
The scepticism of the past gave way to belief. The voices
that once said, “Bangladesh has no future in cricket,” were drowned out by
roars of celebration as the Tigers grew into a competitive, proud Test-playing
nation.
A Nation United
On the day of the 100th Test, those who had endured the
doubts and dismissals of the 80s and 90s felt a wave of vindication. It wasn’t
just about cricket—it was about the spirit of a nation that refused to be
written off.
Bangladesh’s cricket history is not one of ease. It is a
story of struggle, perseverance, and triumph against the odds. The Tigers’
journey from gully cricket to Test cricket mirrors the resilience of the nation
itself—a testament to what can be achieved through hope, effort, and an
unyielding belief in dreams.
Long live Bangladesh. Long live the Tigers.
Bangladesh Zindabad!
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