It was a bustling day at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium. Security personnel, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials, and staff were all in a rush, finalising preparations for the crucial semifinal clash between New Zealand and South Africa.

With heightened security in place, some of the key locations within the Nishtar Park Sports Complex, where the renowned stadium stands, were temporarily closed.

Despite this, a small group of Bangladeshi journalists, including this reporter, sought an opportunity to visit the iconic PCB Museum, located at the National Cricket Academy.

However, the museum appeared to be closed. Hope arrived in the form of Shakeel Khan, a former Pakistani international cricketer and current PCB media official, who promised to facilitate a visit once the scheduled press conference of Pakistan's head coach Aaqib Javed and new T20I captain Salman Ali Agha concluded.

True to his word, Shakeel later guided us to the museum and introduced us to Yahya Ghaznavi, the museum's curator. What followed was an unexpected yet deeply personal revelation. Upon learning that we were from Bangladesh, Yahya warmly shared, "I was in Cumilla during the 1971 war."

A childhood in Bangladesh

Yahya's father was stationed in Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) in 1971, serving as an administrator at CMH, Comilla. Following the war, his family returned to Pakistan. However, the memories of his childhood remain vivid.

"There was a small market named Tripura Bazar near our house. I also remember a British-era war cemetery and the river Gomti," he reminisced.

He fondly spoke about his early years in Comilla, saying, "I think we stayed there for four or five years. I was very young, maybe eight, but I have fond memories." Yahya also recalled visiting Kaptai Lake and Sylhet's lush tea gardens, where his father's friend was a tea estate manager.

Although cricket had not yet gained significant popularity in East Pakistan, he remembered Bangladesh's sporting culture. "Football was very popular in Bangladesh back then. I also know about Brojen Das, the first Asian to cross the English Channel. And there were two famous mosques—one named Baitul Mukarram—and a place called Paltan Maidan," he added.

The guardian of Pakistan's cricket heritage

Now serving as PCB's GM of Archives and Game Education, Yahya has played a key role in curating the PCB Museum, located at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. During a visit by a small group of Bangladeshi journalists, he shared insights into his work and led them through the museum, which showcases the evolution of Pakistan cricket.

"There are many rare photographs in the museum. I have collected them from different sources. The younger generation prefers colored pictures, so I've placed them alongside black-and-white photos," he explained.

The highlight of the visit was a special room that remains closed most of the time. With a smile, Yahya announced, "You will see the best thing in this room." Inside stood Pakistan's greatest cricketing treasure—the 1992 World Cup trophy, won by Imran Khan's team. The museum also houses the 2009 T20 World Cup trophy, the 2017 Champions Trophy, two U-19 World Cup trophies, and several other accolades that narrate Pakistan cricket's glorious journey.

A desire to return to Bangladesh

As the visit came to an end, Yahya, now in his 60s, expressed a deep-seated wish. "I never went back after 1971. Sometimes I think I should return and see the old places. I'm sure things must have changed a lot." His words carried a sense of longing—a bridge between past and present, cricket and nostalgia, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

For Yahya, the museum is more than a collection of artifacts; it is a time capsule of memories—both personal and professional—waiting to be revisited, perhaps one day in Bangladesh, where his journey first began.