Is Kusal Mendis the new life saver for Sri Lanka?

Kusal Mendis is one of the positives for Sri Lanka in 2018…….

It was Aravinda de Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga, who were famous for their rescue acts whenever Sri Lanka fell into trouble. They passed the baton to a certain Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, who carried Sri Lankan cricket on their shoulders for more than a decade. It was up to Angelo Mathews to show the way and for a certain period he was doing his job pretty well, but his fitness hampered his performance and, thus, the job of life-saving-act had to be carried by the bunch of young boys.

The likes of Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne, Roshen Silva, Kusal Perera or Kaushal Silva are talented, but somehow, they are proving to be inconsistent. A 23-year old youngster named Kusal Mendis, so far, proved his worth consistently this year and giving the impression to the Lankan fans; he is different from others and possesses the temperament like a Mahela, Sangakkara or Aravinda to fight it out when the going gets tough.

The 23-year old is special. Those who have just come to know about Mendis after his back to back fighting knocks against all the odds at Wellington and Christchurch, might feel, he is more about compactness rather than possessing the ability to script a counterattack like an Aravinda or a Sangakkara. The boy can take the attack to the cleaners like a maestro and who knows better than Steve Smith and his men, who witnessed one of the most dashing knocks of this decade at Pallekele.

Mendis notched up a swashbuckling 176 against a competent Australian attack, which set the tone for a marvellous series where the Islanders gunned down Smith & Co quite brutally. He followed it up with an 86-run knock at Galle, but since then, Mendis lost his mojo and started to frustrate the Sri Lankan followers, for whom – digesting a Lankan defeat has become a regularity over the past two years.

Chandika Hathurusingha took over the responsibility to rebuild Sri Lankan cricket. The start of 2018 was pretty optimistic for the master, but since that adventurous tour of West Indies, nothing has gone right for Sri Lanka. As usual, they are losing. As usual, things are pretty chaotic on and off the pitch. Chandika’s tactics have come under scrutiny and, it seems, the officials too are losing faith in him gradually.

But one thing for sure, it is too early to write off Chandika. It is always tough to bring back a team on track who have suffered a lot in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Yes, the progress is slow, but some bright outcomes cannot be ignored. Among few of those outcomes, the return of Mendis to back to form can be credited to Chandika and batting coach Thilan Samaraweera's hard work.

Mendis of 2018 – enough consistent, enough wiser

After his heroic knock alongside Angelo at Wellington, Chandimal said, “After the match yesterday everyone was having a bit of fun telling Mendis that he was batting like Thilan Samaraweera. He works really closely with Thilan on his batting, and we were just making fun of the way he'd played”.

“We should especially mention that at tea yesterday, he had 98 runs, and at the end of the day, after batting 31 overs and playing out a whole session, he had only made it to 116. You look at that and you really see he played for the team. It's a really valuable century, and it's one that he had to go away from his natural style to produce” Chadimal added.

The impact is evident.

The Mendis of 2018 is different from that of 2016 and 2017, where he did not know the importance of composure and displaying resolve according to the demand of situation. Since that marvellous knock against Australia at Pallekele and Galle, perhaps, Mendis thought, it is always ideal to rely on counterattacks no matter in what situation he comes out to bat. But in five-day matches, you cannot switch to a fourth or fifth gear immediately as because, it is not a Twnety20 match. In Test cricket, understanding the basics of batting is a must. And that’s why, he struggled and even, he was dropped from the side for such a style, which resulted in his lean-patch.

But this year, he worked on his weakness along with Thilan and the result has been satisfactory.

In the morning session of Day 4, Mendis weathered the storm from Trent Boult and Tim Southee, but Neil Wagner did not know about anything else other than targeting the ribs and throat. Wagner unleashed a barrage of short-pitch bowling, which came towards chest and neck like cannonballs – Mendis’ newly-found confidence and polished technique helped him to survive the heat of Wagner. He spent hours after hours along with Chandimal to ensure safety. And for which, Sri Lanka could at least survive the day and take the game to Day 5.

 “It was to bat as many balls as possible, as had been the case in Wellington. I tried to make the ball older and softer. If runs came, then that's a bonus. So we took it hour by hour and tried to break the work up that way. I was able to bat a session and a half, but if I'd been able to support Chandi a little bit better, we might have been able to finish today without a wicket having fallen", Mendis expressed his opinion in the post-match presser.

After all the hard work in the middle, he was dismissed quite tamely - Spotting a wide length ball from Neil Wagner, he drove it uppishly to short cover, where Matt Henry took a spectacular diving catch.

The shot was a wrong one and the good thing is Mendis, at present, can judge his mistakes better than before. As he said, “I don't think that was a great ball to drive. After looking at the replays, that's probably what I take from it. I was trying to hit through extra cover. The fielder was close, and I hit it too far in the air. It was probably too wide. It's one that I really could have left alone, but I made the wrong decision. Hopefully, I can learn from it”.

The words say it all. The Mendis of 2018 is much wiser than before. He has understood the pros and cons of playing Test cricket. Mendis has started to realise his true abilities, which is similar to what the past masters used to do more – be the life saver, when the team is in deep trouble.

Talent is nothing if does not turn into deeds. It seems, gradually, Mendis is learning this. Otherwise, he would not have ended up as one of the best batsmen of 2018, who has scored 1000-plus runs alongside the great Virat Kohli.

Mendis said, “I am going to try and get 1000 every year” which is the statement of a man, who is confident and hungry for more. He is one of the positives for Sri Lanka this year and Sri Lanka need to exploit the positives they have.            

Note: This article has been published at Cricketsoccer on 29/12/2018  Is Kusal Mendis the new life saver for Sri Lanka? 

Thank You

Faisal Caesar             

Roshen Silva drives loosely and Trent Boult sinks Sri Lanka

Trent Boult annihilated Sri Lanka quickly to leave them demoralised…….

Trent Boult is a predator on any surface. Be it in a subcontinental flat deck or in a seam and bouncy track, Boult will script Thunderbolts with a commendable effort. Since he burst into the Test scene, quite silently he has delivered some of the finest spells in test cricket, which hardly received the hype and attention from international fans and media. The surprising silence regarding such customers leads to the use of the word underrated, which automatically creates a space to highlight the overrated ones.

But like a Dale Steyn or James Anderson, even a Boult can find the going tough when a batsman decides to display resolve. A pacer is hardly worried about the counterattacks as because there is always a chance to dismiss the batter, but in case of defiant resistance, the chances go down a bit. Again, if a quality pacer can breach the wall of resistance for once, he rediscovers his killer instincts immediately – havoc is created and if the bowler is gifted such, obviously, he does not take time to clean off things.

A new day offers a new beginning. It offers us not to commit enough mistakes. It gives us the opportunity not to waste the hard work done on the previous day. But Sri Lanka’s Roshen Silva decided otherwise.                   

Until the fifth over of the day commenced, Silva kept the basics right – got behind the line of the ball better and executed shots with soft hands. He was needed to do the same for a brief period and gthe ive strike to Angelo Mathews as much as possible. But in the fourth ball of fifth over of Day 2, Silva attempted a loose-drive with hard hands against a delivery, which was pitched up. Boult struck gold and Silva was left to rue about the stroke. In the twinkle of an eye, all the hard work of Day 1 was wasted due to lack of resolve.

Silva departed and Boult punished Sri Lanka ruthlessly. The ball came out of his hand like a weapon of mass destruction, which moved prodigiously – moved in and out from a full-length leaving Sri Lanka tottering. Niroshan Dickwella, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal and Dushmanta Chameera could do nothing, but surrender meekly against a pacer, who was bowling in such a manner as if he had just landed from another planet. It was a mayhem, which took a few minutes to sink the Lankan ship leaving their talisman – Mathews – as a mere spectator at the other end. Mathews could do nothing.

Six wickets fell in the span of just 15 balls.

Boult started the day at 0 for 20. The pacer was struggling with form in the opening Test in  Wellington, where he finished with the figures of 2 for 145. But he was just one moment away to rediscover his mojo and as soon as Silva gifted it, there was no stopping to the mayhem. Boult’s spell not only sunk Sri Lanka, but dented them psychologically as their bowlers failed to test the New Zealand batters, who batted the visitors out of the game.     

That’s how destructive a pace bowler can be.

That’s why people love to watch a pace bowler at his very best.

Note: This article has been published at Cricketsoccer on 26/12/2018 Roshen Silva drives loosely and Trent Boult sinks Sri Lanka

Thank You
Faisal Caesar 

Christchurch and Centurion offer great joy, but MCG frustrates

While the quality of cricket was enthralling at Christchurch and Centurion, MCG frustrated everyone…..

Even though cricketing actions are evident on the Boxing Day in other countries, but each and every cricket fan focus on the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), which has become quite synonymous with Boxing Day since the 1980s.

The sky high popularity of Boxing Day Tests during the 80s prompted the then Victorian Cricket Association to trademark the event. Except for the summer of 1989-90, MCG has been a regular venue for the Boxing Day Test. The fans, who don’t live in Australia, either wake up early in the morning or remain awake deep at night to watch live action from MCG.  MCG hardly disappointed the fans since the start of a Test. The first day of a Boxing Day Test in MCG means high quality excitement and to a greater extent, the tracks have played a vital role in providing such.

MCG decks have never been as flat as the pancakes. Neither can anyone claim, MCG decks are like roads. The equality between the bat and ball has always been noticeable. But when you see a spinner to bowl in the eighth over of the day on an MCG track, I am sorry to say, all the interest about the Boxing Day Test in MCG, takes a setback. One could see such events take place on Day 1 of the third Test between India and Australia.

The hype about the track at MCG was huge before the Test match started and the people involved in preparing and reporting the deck, stated, it would have something for both the batters and bowlers. Sadly, on a sun-kissed day, the excited crowd all around the globe was presented with a subcontinental track, which was slow and low and would get slower as the day progresses.  All of a sudden the interest regarding the Test was dented for those, who wish to witness a bit of a challenge for the batters on Test match pitches.

As a matter of fact, the notion – good tracks mean a flatter track – has done a lot of damage to Test cricket over the past few decades. In Test cricket, a contest is not a contest, until and unless, it has something for the bowlers. On a docile deck, Test cricket can never burst into life.

Even though, at the fag end of day, the clash between Mitchell Starc and Virat Kohli triggered a bit of thrill, but when you notice the action at Christchurch and Centurion, Day 1 at MCG is easily overshadowed by the thrills and chills of the decks provided by New Zealand and South Africa.

The track at Hagley Oval was a lively one. It was painted with a green brush and as soon as Suranga Lakmal started to swing the red cherry like hell, New Zealand discovered themselves in an absolute disarray. Six wickets went down in a hurry, but BJ Watling’s solidity and Tim Southee’s jaw-dropping counterattack dragged New Zealand out of the mess.

It was a top quality fight.

The Lankan bowlers forgot to bowl a tight line and length, but adopted a more attacking option to bury New Zealand early. It was a desperate situation and demanded a desperate measure – Southee unleashed his best with the bat. Bingo! Let’s go for the kill rather than getting killed. A flurry of boundaries cropped up and Sri Lanka’s attacking line-and-length was disturbed for a brief period.  New Zealand ended with a respectable total considering the track and situation they were in and struck hard with the ball when Sri Lanka came out to bat. Sri Lanka displayed resolve and arrested further collapse. The Day 1 at Christchurch witnessed 266 runs for 14 wickets.

A few hours later, cricket burst into life in Centurion, when a certain Babar Azam decided to answer his critics. Babar is mostly considered as a limited-overs batsman and not worthy enough to play Test cricket. But when Pakistan were tottering at 111 for 8, Babar decided to change his colour in went the Southee way – Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada were taken to the cleaners in a manner, as it seemed, they were mere club bowlers. It was a freakish display of counterattack. Babar was the man possessed.

When Pakistan came out to bowl, like the Kiwis, they struck hard. Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali and Shaheen Afridi went berserk. The wickets started to tumble, but the home team’s scoring rate did not take a step back. Their scoring rate was around 3.9 runs per over, despite the threat posed by Pakistan pacers.

New Zealand, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Pakistan attacked, counterattacked and attacked and the spicy deck attributed to such a top-notch Test cricket. It forced the players to unleash their attacking instinct – the contest between bat and ball was not dull like MCG. Obviously, the Day 1 at MCG frustrated all, but Christchurch and Centurion saved the day.       

Note: This article has been published at Cricketsoccer on 26/12/2018 Christchurch and Centurion offer great joy, but MCG frustrates    

Thank You

Faisal Caesar        

A Test for the Ages: Kingsmead 1948’s Electrifying Finale

The atmosphere at Kingsmead, Durban, in 1948 was charged with an almost mythical intensity. As the fading light clashed with a persistent drizzle, Test cricket bore witness to one of its most thrilling climaxes. With three balls remaining, four results lingered in the balance: a win for either side, a draw, or a tie. The final ball—a leg-bye clinching victory—etched this encounter into the annals of cricketing folklore.

But the tale of that match transcends its dramatic ending. It was a microcosm of cricket’s unpredictability, a contest of skill and nerve on a pitch as mercurial as the sport itself.

England's Quest for Redemption

The year 1948 had not been kind to England. Don Bradman’s swansong series left the English battered and bereft of confidence. The scars from their Ashes humiliation lingered as they embarked on their first South African tour in a decade. Victory in this unfamiliar territory wasn’t just a matter of pride; it was a necessary salve for wounded spirits.

Their prospects weren’t entirely bleak. A year prior, England had bested South Africa on home soil, and though doubts loomed, they were still considered favourites to win the series. However, their mettle would be tested against a South African side determined to exploit every vulnerability.

A Stage Set for Battle

The first Test at Kingsmead was a four-day affair, punctuated by historical undertones. England’s captain, George Mann, debuted in this match, following in the footsteps of his father, Frank Mann, who had led England in South Africa 26 years prior. South Africa, too, fielded debutants, and their captain Dudley Nourse stepped in for the injured Alan Melville.

Nourse’s decision to bat first was calculated, influenced by forecasts of thunderstorms that promised to wreak havoc on the second day. The pitch, temperamental and unpredictable, reflected the tension that defined this contest.

Day 1: Swing and Strife

Alec Bedser and Clifford Gladwin capitalized on the humid conditions, delivering a masterclass in swing bowling. South Africa’s openers faltered, but a 51-run stand between debutant Bruce Mitchell and Nourse offered a glimmer of stability. Yet, England’s fielding brilliance—exemplified by Alan Watkins’ one-handed short-leg catch and Cyril Washbrook’s sharp run-out—ensured the pendulum swung firmly in their favour.

Bedser and Gladwin’s relentless discipline dismantled the South African lineup, with only Denis Begbie and OC Dawson showing resistance. South Africa were bowled out for a modest 161, with Bedser’s 4 for 39 and Gladwin’s 3 for 21 underscoring England’s dominance.

Day 2: Thunderstorms and Momentum

Rain curtailed play on the second day, but not England’s ascendancy. Len Hutton and Cyril Washbrook negotiated South Africa’s bowlers with aplomb, stitching together a 50-run stand in brisk fashion. Dudley Nourse turned to his spinners, Tufty Mann and Athol Rowan, who managed to stem the flow of runs. By stumps, England were well-placed at 144 for 2, with Hutton’s commanding 81 hinting at further trouble for the hosts.

Day 3: A Pitch Transformed

The third day descended into chaos, a captivating duel between bat and ball. Nineteen wickets fell for just 199 runs, a spectacle born from Mann’s shrewd decision to delay rolling the pitch. The dry crust that formed overnight crumbled under the heavy roller, creating a minefield for batsmen and a paradise for spinners.

England’s Denis Compton stood tall amid the carnage, crafting a gritty 72 to guide his team to 253. Mann’s left-arm guile yielded 6 for 59, while Rowan’s off-breaks added 4 for 108.

South Africa’s response was cautious yet tenuous. Dudley Nourse and Mitchell added vital runs, but England’s bowlers, particularly Doug Wright, found their rhythm. Wright, rediscovering his leg-spin artistry, claimed crucial wickets, leaving South Africa teetering at 90 for 4 by stumps.

The Final Act: A Day of Legend

The rest day only heightened the anticipation. When play resumed, Wade and Begbie’s 85-run stand for the fifth wicket seemed to tilt the scales. Yet England’s bowlers—notably Wright and Jenkins—rallied. South Africa’s innings folded at 219, setting England a target of 128 in 135 minutes.

The pursuit was fraught with peril. The pitch, unrelenting in its spite, and the failing light created a cauldron of tension. Washbrook survived a chance off the first ball but Tufty Mann soon claimed Hutton. George Mann promoted himself to steady the chase but fell to a spectacular slip catch by Mitchell off 19-year-old debutant Cuan McCarthy.

McCarthy’s fiery spell left England reeling at 70 for 6. Compton, ever the stoic, forged a crucial partnership with Jenkins, but McCarthy struck again, finishing with remarkable figures of 6 for 43. England’s hopes now rested on Bedser and Gladwin, the last pair.

The Climactic Finale

As the drizzle persisted and the light dimmed, Bedser and Gladwin braved McCarthy’s fiery deliveries. With scores tied, the drama culminated in the final ball of Len Tuckett’s over. Gladwin swung and missed, but the ball deflected off his thigh and rolled towards short leg. The duo sprinted desperately, and Tufty Mann’s throw narrowly missed the stumps as Bedser completed the run.

Victory by a leg-bye off the last ball—a singular moment in Test history—sent the crowd into raptures. Spectators stormed the pitch, hoisting players aloft in jubilant disbelief. In the pavilion, many English players confessed they had been unable to watch the nail-biting conclusion.

Legacy of a Thriller

This match at Kingsmead wasn’t merely a game; it was a testament to cricket’s capacity for theatre. England’s narrow victory rekindled their confidence, propelling them to a 2-0 series triumph. Yet, the true essence of this Test lay in its narrative—the tactical battles, individual heroics, and the relentless unpredictability of cricket.

Seventy-six years later, the Kingsmead Test of 1948 remains an emblem of why cricket, in its purest form, captivates hearts and minds. It is a story of resilience, ingenuity, and the ceaseless drama that unfolds when sport meets history.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar 

All is quiet on the great fight back at Basin Reserve

The lack of interest in Sri Lanka’s epic fight back among cricket fans and pundits is quite saddening…….

There you go, from nowhere, Sri Lanka managed to draw the first Test at Basin Reserve quite astonishingly. But, frankly speaking, even their ardent supporters won’t put their money in favour of Sri Lanka – surely, you don’t want to prove yourself a fool by investing faith in a team, which is displaying poor quality cricket at home and away and whose house is pretty chaotic at present.

But you know what, cricket – especially Test cricket - is such a format, where you cannot write off anyone easily. No one understood this better than Aizaz Patel, the hero in Abu Dhabi, who stated, if you think test cricket is, the easier it will come back and bite you on the, well, you know.

"You always have to expect the other team will play well. Nothing is expected in cricket. We know it's a funny game and it can bite you in the arse if you expect too many things," Patel said after the final day of first Test was washed off by rain. Patel said such in a rather sad manner as because, Angelo Mathews and Kusal Mendis displayed the best of grits and determinations on Day 4, when all seemed lost at 13 for 3.

Their defiant resistance on Day 4 paid rich dividends on the final day, where the skies above the Basin Reserve opened up to honour their courage as it did the same 11 years ago in Lord’s, when a lad named MS Dhoni’s determination delayed England’s victory and later on, the Lond skies opened up to draw the match to the utter astonishment of England captain Michael Vaughan.

Indeed, fortune favours the brave!  

It was not that New Zealand bowled badly on Day 4 since the Mathews and Mendis came together in the middle. As Patel said, “I haven't played a lot of test cricket, but a lot of the boys said that was the first time they had seen a day of test cricket without a wicket. But that's not to say we played poorly. I think we bowled well”.

“We applied ourselves and bowled in good areas for long periods, they just adapted really well and they have two guys sitting on 100 not out so we can't beat ourselves up too much about that”.

Indeed, Mathews and Mendis adapted very well and their focus was to spend as much time as possible on the wicket. The habit of playing false strokes was cut off, the threatening ones were left sensibly rather than poking and playing with a straight bat was the order of the day. A collapse was arrested and Sri Lanka managed to stitch a match-saving partnership, which is expected to boost the morale of this Lankan unit.

Undoubtedly, Mathews is not finished yet and still, a fit Mathews has a lot to offer for Sri Lanka. Still, I think, Mathews should lead this side if he can maintain his fitness.

But what staggered me most, is the silence of the so-called cricket fans and pundits regarding Sri Lanka’s epic fight back. Rather, the buzz of an auction garnered more attention. Sadly, this is the modern day cricket, where the tamasha dominates more than quality. This is the era, where great efforts in Test matches get poor attention for the sake of an auction, which is not even a cricket match.

And if the teams are not heavyweights, none even bother to notice.

Even though, things were different before tamasha burst into the scene. One can’t deny, how much interest the first Test between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe generated in 2005. Both the teams were regarded as minnows in that time, but still, none of the cricket fans could ignore the thrill and chill of a Test match.  

Time has changed. Cricket has changed a lot. The interest of cricket fans has changed as well.

But whether this change in interest good or bad, I have asked this question to myself many times. Is preferring a tamasha over the high-quality content in Basin Reserve better? For me, it is not. I would always prefer the high-quality content in Basin Reserve. As I believe, for the betterment of cricket’s future, it is very important to follow the best format and the new generation of cricket bosses, pundits and fans should believe the same.  

But, the story is different. They do say, Test cricket needs to be branded in the best possible way, but here, the action does not speak louder than words. And for which, all is quiet on an epic fight back at Basin Reserve!

Note: This article has been posted at Cricketsoccer on 19/12/2018 All is quiet on the great fight back at Basin Reserve

Thank You

Faisal Caesar 

Cricket in East Pakistan: A Journey from Marginalization to Passion

The year 1947 marked the end of British colonial rule in the Indian subcontinent, leading to the partition of India and the creation of two independent nations: India and Pakistan. This division gave birth to a unique political and cultural landscape, with Pakistan split into West and East regions. Amidst the political upheaval and socio-economic challenges, sports emerged as a unifying force, with cricket playing a pivotal role. Despite its colonial roots, cricket became a symbol of national pride and a tool for diplomacy, especially between India and Pakistan. However, the development of cricket in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) was starkly different from its progress in the West.

The Early Days: A Struggle for Recognition

In the years following the partition, cricket in West Pakistan began to flourish, fueled by enthusiastic players and administrators. In contrast, East Pakistan faced significant challenges. The departure of influential figures like the Maharaja of Natore and Sarada Ranjan Ray left a void in the cricketing landscape of East Bengal. Football and hockey quickly overshadowed cricket, particularly after Dhaka District Eleven’s historic victory over the Islington Corinthians football team in 1937. This triumph ignited a football revolution that dominated the region for decades.

Yet, cricket persisted in the pockets of East Pakistan. According to veteran journalist Muhammad Kamruzzaman, informal club leagues kept the spirit of cricket alive during the partition years. Matches were held at venues like Dhaka DSA Ground, Wari Victoria, and East End, albeit with limited infrastructure and resources. By 1948, organized cricket leagues resumed, laying the foundation for the sport’s future growth.

Institutional Support and Early Milestones

The formation of a cricket association in East Pakistan in 1951 marked a turning point. Spearheaded by figures like Feroz Khan Noon and Masood Salahuddin, this initiative sought to institutionalize cricket in the region. The visit of a Burmese cricket team in 1951 further bolstered local interest, even though the matches were casual and lacked professionalism. These events signalled the beginning of cricket’s gradual rise in East Pakistan.

The 1952-53 tour of East Pakistan by the West Pakistan cricket team, led by Abdul Hafeez Kardar, was another milestone. Matches held in Chattogram and Dhaka showcased local talent, with players like Dr. Mazharul Islam Damal and Qazi Mohsin earning recognition. Although these matches were largely symbolic, they planted the seeds for cricket’s growth in the region. Kardar himself acknowledged this in a 1954 column for Dawn, noting that the first seeds of cricket in East Pakistan had been sown.

The Rise of Infrastructure and Talent

The establishment of the East Pakistan Sports Federation (EPSF) further propelled cricket’s development. Participation in the Pakistan National League exposed local players to high-level competition, offering invaluable experience despite the dominance of teams from Karachi and Lahore. The construction of a cricket stadium in Dhaka in 1955, now known as the Bangabandhu International Stadium, ushered in a new era. Hosting its first Test match between Pakistan and India on January 1, 1955, the stadium became a symbol of East Pakistan’s cricketing aspirations.

During this period, cricket gained popularity among the youth, with schools and colleges embracing the sport. Grounds like Dhaka DSA, Wari Club, and Eidgah became hubs of cricketing activity, nurturing talents like Abdul Halim Chowdhury Jewel and Raquibul Hasan. These players, characterized by their fearless approach and technical proficiency, began to challenge the dominance of West Pakistani cricketers.

Persistent Discrimination and the Struggle for Equality

Despite these advancements, East Pakistani cricketers faced systemic discrimination. The cricketing hierarchy, dominated by West Pakistan, often overlooked talent from the East. Niaz Ahmed, a non-Bengali cricketer, was the only player from East Pakistan to represent the national team before 1971, highlighting the exclusionary practices of the time. Even when players from the East demonstrated their capabilities, as in the 1952-53 match against West Pakistan, they were frequently sidelined in favour of their Western counterparts.

This marginalization extended to international tours. For instance, Sohrab Khan and Amirullah Munni, two promising players from East Pakistan, were included in the Pakistan Eaglets’ tour to England but were fielded in only two matches out of twenty. Such instances underscored the systemic biases that hindered the growth of cricket in East Pakistan.

The Liberation War and the Birth of Bangladesh Cricket

The liberation war of 1971 marked a turning point in the history of East Pakistan. The sacrifices of individuals like Abdul Halim Chowdhury Jewel, who fought and died for Bangladesh’s independence, underscored the deep connection between cricket and national identity. Raquibul Hasan, another prominent cricketer, survived the war and became instrumental in rebuilding cricket in the newly independent Bangladesh.

Post-Independence: Rekindling the Cricketing Spirit

Following independence, cricket struggled to reclaim its preeminence in Bangladesh. Football dominated the sports landscape throughout the 1970s and 1980s. However, efforts to revive cricket persisted. By the mid-1990s, cricket began to eclipse football, fueled by grassroots initiatives and international exposure. The passion for cricket, deeply rooted in Bengal’s history, found new expression in the hearts of Bangladeshis.

Today, Bangladesh is a nation synonymous with cricket. The sport has transcended its colonial origins to become a symbol of national pride and unity. From the humble beginnings of club leagues in the 1940s to hosting international matches in state-of-the-art stadiums, Bangladesh’s cricketing journey is a testament to resilience and passion. The legacy of pioneers like Jewel, Raquibul, and countless others continues to inspire a cricket-mad nation.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar