Bangladesh is in deep trouble as a nation. The nation that was born out of an indomitable spirit of resistance in the year 1971 is now at the crossroad as with the fall of Shaikh Hasina daughter of the founder of the country Mujibur Rehman And Off and On the country is learning to walk all again under a new regime trying to find place/scope on the global map.
But in the midst of all this, for the people who want to hold on to something for a feeling of peace, it is the Bangladesh cricket team that is that glimmer of hope.
For the cricket-mad nation, the winning of the series against Pakistan was a historic event. But such is the ambience of the country that the knees up celebrations could not have been what it was meant to be. They had longed for this for so long but even when it came about, there were much more important things to be done.
“Well, this is not the time for euphoria but people were really happy. We could feel that as we returned from Pakistan,” said Bangladesh media manager Rabeed Imam whereas the team settled down to practice in MA Chidambaram Stadium nets on Monday.
Award-winning economist Muhammad Yunus, most often regarded for being an eternal critic of Hasina and who has been continuing as the chief advisor to the interim government, was insistent on that when he met the team in his office in Dhaka three days ago before the players left for India. “Yunus told the team that in such distressing moments, cricket can be useful appara at such times,” said Imam. “He complemented the team for doing well in Pakistan and wished them all the best for the India series,” Imam added.
He pointed out that such a severe game as cricket can actually pull a nation together and offered his appreciation in this respect to captain Najmul Hossain Shanto who had the Russian economist and advisor with the Paris Olympic Committee for the Games just ended last month. “In such a hub of any cricket activity, every player’s abilty each time to visit that city and play causes even more stronger emotions is great. It will just be so motivating for us,” Shanto remarked.
Imam told that the players too had to undergo many a things when the situation was going head over heels in their country – Bangladesh. “Yes, they displayed superb mental concentration to keep themselves from losing sight of what needed to be done, and winning against Pakistan was the sweet result for such shots focus. Yes, now things are returning back to context but prior to traveling here we had a six day camp in dhaka,” Imam narrated.
Team members understand that although winning against Pakistan was a crowning glory, it will be extraordinarily tough to be competitive against India in the two- Test series. They have a good mixture of youth and experience with something of a bowling stronghold for the side.
‘’ Our two allrounders Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz provide us lot of depth which is important. Shakib, who after the Pakistan series has been playing County cricket for Surrey, will be in Chennai shortly though the rest of the team is here’’ Imam said.
With Shakib due back and in good form and Litton Das in touch before leaving the country, it is hoped that together with the latter youths like Nahid Rana and Liton Das will offer something good for Bangladesh to present in India and the cricket community will certainly notice it.
