Bangladesh Cricket
Room for Hope, Soon we Choke

Osama Rahman

There is a common ground that Bangladesh politics and Bangladesh Cricket share; they both flatter to deceive. Repeatedly. Of course, the former does so every four years, while the latter is more consistent and frequent in this respect. So, giving credit where credit is due, it's about time someone appreciates the Bangladesh Cricket team's consistent inconsistency. When it comes to spectacularly imploding, we really are second to no other. Three cheers. But of course, it is impossible to sing praises using the same tune year after year; we have much more to be proud of.

Sometimes when rubbishing Bangladesh's performances, people tend to overlook the fact that we haven't always been bad. Of the 73* test matches Bangladesh has played, we have won a handful of them. By handful, we mean three. Considered in percentages, it stands at a more respectable 4.1 percent chance of us winning a test match. Those odds are a bookies' dream, in all honesty. And before anyone forgets, let us please kindly remember that of the three test matches we won, two were against West Indies back in 2009. This being the same West Indies that won the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1975 and 1979. Of course, it wasn't the same team 30 years later, but it was still West Indies. Let's concede the fact that this West Indian team was thoroughly depeleted due to the omission of Chanderpaul, Gayle and Rampaul to name a few, but they still had Roach and Darren Sammy, so that must count for something, right? It was a victory, nonetheless. In a different perspective, which team can really boast winning 3 test matches in 10 years? None but Bangladesh. That's also a point there too. Putting numbers in perspective, it's better to understand that in 20 years since gaining test status, Zimbabwe has a winning percentage of only around 10 percent, after having played 86 test matches, completely overlooking their self-imposed exile. We will get to the big ten soon.

Unlike politics though, Bangladesh Cricket is clean. There is absolutely zero corruption in the Bangladesh Cricket Board. All decisions taken are always democractic and transparent. No seriously, stop laughing. Consider the team selection process, to begin with. After consultation with the coach, manager and the captain, the board of selectors decide on playing the best team they can, bar that one little incident when the then captian Shakib wasn't informed of the team he would be leading and the board completely ignored his opinions. Apart from that tiny blemish, it must be noted that the team selection is based purely on a player's form and not influenced by money, nepotism, reputation or wishful thinking. Of course, there are a few times when Ashraful was selected based on one of those things but he did repay the faith by scoring a 20. Before you roll your eyes, remember that if that 20 had been scored against West Indies in World Cup 2010, in home ground, it would have brought our scores above 60. Once again, put these numbers into perspective. Also, Ashraful brought experience and confidence to the side. The man has over 170 matches under his belt and boasts a massive average of almost 23 runs a game. Why should he be dropped? Everyone knows he is unpredictable. Any day now, he will break all the records ever made in the history of the universe, cricket-related of course. Any day, now, just wait for it.

Speaking of extraordinary talent, without the added layer of sarcasm in the tone, we come to Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan. Both honoured as Wisden's Test Cricketer of the Year and the latter being mentioned in the same breath as the all-rounder legends of the game, these men epitomise the strides that Bangladesh Cricket have made. Of course, they aren't the only bright spots. 20-year old Nasir Hossain held his own when the entire top order collapsed against a potent Pakistani bowling line-up, scoring a maiden century, when others crashed and burned. Shakib's and Shariar's sparkling 180 run partnership in the first test against the same opponents just a few days back, also stood as a glimmer of hope when the future looked bleak. The National Cricket League, along with the streets of hopefuls, continues to provide the next generation of cricketers, desipte everyone lamenting the lack of superstars in the pipeline. Sometimes, it takes a team to make history rather than a few superstars in the team and perhaps that remains Bangladesh's destiny.

Bangladesh's shortcomings are down to too many factors to point out. But, primarily, it should be of utmost importance to remove the politics from the system, invest in the youth and instil commitment and courage in the team always reeling from a weak mentality. Another thing the Bangladesh team can boast about? A million critical fans, who always hope for the best, prepare for the worst and are ready to take the streets when there's a victory and ready to riot when there's a loss. That's love and that is what passion is. Channel that energy into the game and Bangladesh will become a force to be reckoned with.

 

---