Cricket in the Shadow of Upheaval: Tumultuous Times in Bangladesh During Pakistan Era

 

The domestic cricket season in Pakistan traditionally unfolds during the cooler autumn and winter months, offering a respite from the searing summer heat. However, the 1970/71 cricket season was anything but ordinary, unfolding against the backdrop of political upheaval that would forever alter the nation's trajectory. As the nation grappled with epoch-making events, cricket too underwent profound changes, reflecting the turbulent winds of the time. 

Politics Meets Cricket: A Nation at a Crossroads

In December 1970, Pakistan held its first national and provincial elections based on universal adult suffrage, heralding a new era of political accountability. Yet, the aftermath of these elections unleashed a tempest of discontent, particularly in East Pakistan, where the political and cultural divide between the two wings of the country reached a breaking point. Amid this turmoil, cricket, often seen as a unifying force, became a stage where the broader currents of change played out. 

The Ayub Trophy, a staple of Pakistan’s cricketing calendar, was rebranded as the BCCP Trophy under the administration of a new government in Islamabad. Cricket tournaments, like the inaugural National Under-19 Championship, were introduced, fostering talent from both wings of the country. Divided into East and West Zones, this competition mirrored the duality of a nation already straining under its internal divisions. 

East Pakistan’s Moment in the Sun

In East Pakistan, the National Under-19 Championship showcased Dhaka as the hub of cricketing activity. The East Zone’s final was a dramatic affair, with the East Pakistan Sports Federation Under-19 side, led by a young Raqibul Hasan, defeating the Dhaka Education Board team. Tanvir Mazhar Tanna’s extraordinary all-round performance—107 runs and 8 wickets—underscored the talent brewing in the region. 

The national final, hosted in Dhaka, saw East Pakistan's champions take on Lahore’s formidable Under-19 side, captained by Wasim Raja and featuring future luminaries like Imran Khan. Lahore's batting prowess, highlighted by centuries from Afzal Masood and Imran Khan, overwhelmed the East Pakistan team, handing Lahore victory based on a commanding first-innings lead. While this marked a significant moment for cricket in East Pakistan, it also underscored the stark disparity between the two regions, both in cricket and beyond. 

The BCCP Trophy and East Pakistan’s Struggles

In the senior BCCP Trophy, East Pakistan fielded two teams: East Pakistan Whites and Greens. The Whites, representing the more seasoned players, managed a respectable performance against Dhaka University, with young opener Rauf Ansari impressive with scores of 74 and an unbeaten 150. Yet, when pitted against the powerhouse PIA team, boasting Test stalwarts like Zaheer Abbas and Mohammad Ilyas, both East Pakistani teams crumbled under the weight of superior opposition. 

The disparity in cricketing infrastructure and talent between East and West Pakistan was glaring. While West Pakistan fielded teams brimming with international experience, many players from East Pakistan found their solitary brush with first-class cricket in these matches. 

An International Match Turns into a Political Flashpoint

February 1971 brought an international XI led by Mickey Stewart to Pakistan. The second “Test” of the tour, staged in Dhaka, held special significance as it featured two East Pakistan-born cricketers in the Pakistan lineup—Raqibul Hasan and Tanvir Mazhar Tanna. For the Dhaka crowd, Raqibul, a symbol of East Pakistan’s cricketing aspirations, was a focal point. 

As Raqib walked out to bat, he carried a subtle yet defiant message: a sticker on his Gray-Nicolls bat declaring freedom for Bangladesh. The thunderous protest from the Bengali crowd underscored the rising tide of Bengali nationalism. Sadly, Raqib’s innings was short-lived, and Pakistan’s batting faltered against a disciplined international attack. 

The match, however, was overshadowed by an announcement that sent shockwaves through the stadium. President Yahya Khan had postponed the inaugural session of Pakistan’s National Assembly, triggering widespread outrage in Dhaka. Protesters stormed the stadium, setting fire to marquees and forcing the abandonment of the match. The chaos that engulfed Dhaka marked a grim turning point for the nation and its cricket. 

The Curtain Falls on East Pakistani Cricket

The players, trapped in the stadium amid the unrest, were eventually escorted to safety. For the Pakistani team, the journey out of Dhaka was fraught with danger and uncertainty, reflecting the larger collapse of order in the region. As they departed, Raqibul Hasan’s poignant farewell to Zaheer Abbas—“The next time I visit Karachi or Lahore, I might have to come with a new passport”—resonated as a haunting prophecy. 

Within weeks, East Pakistan descended into violence and chaos, culminating in the Liberation War and the eventual emergence of Bangladesh as an independent nation. The events of the 1970/71 cricket season, while seemingly peripheral, mirrored the fractures within the country. For East Pakistan, this was not just the end of a cricketing chapter but the prelude to a new national identity. 

Legacy of a Divided Season

The 1970/71 cricket season serves as a poignant reminder of the intersection between sport and society. Cricket in Pakistan, once seen as a unifying force, became a microcosm of the divisions that tore the nation apart. The talent and potential of East Pakistani cricketers like Raqibul Hasan and Tanvir Mazhar Tanna highlighted what might have been, while the dominance of West Pakistan teams underscored the structural inequalities that defined the era. 

In retrospect, the cricketing contests of that fateful season were more than games; they were a reflection of a nation on the brink of transformation. As the curtain fell on cricket in East Pakistan, it marked not just the end of an era but the dawn of a new chapter in the region’s history.

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