Bangladesh - Cricket
The borders of Bangladesh, previously 1947–1955 were set by the Partition of British India in 1947, when it became the eastern wing of Pakistan and known as 1955–1970. It was separated from the main (western) part of Pakistan by some 1,600 km (990 mi) of volatile Indian territory, hostile towards them. Despite their common religion of Islam, the ethnic and linguistic gulf between the two parts of Pakistan, compounded by an apathetic government based in the west, resulted in the independence of Bangladesh under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1971 after the bloody Bangladesh Liberation War, in which it was morally supported by the Republic of India. Bangladesh formally declared its independence from Pakistan on 26 March 1971. This was confirmed on the new nation’s Victory Day of 16 December 1971.
Cricket flourished in Bengal during the British era. Centering Calcutta, cricket gained a lot of popularity among the general mass. This led to the evolution of cricket over the years in West Bengal as well as present Bangladesh. After the partition of Bengal in 1947, matches of domestic cricket in Pakistan were conducted in four leagues. Regional East Bengali of Pakistan teams regularly took part in the first-class Quaid-e-Azam trophy from 1954 through 1968. Seven international Test matches with Pakistan participating as the host team were played in Dhaka between 1955 and 1969.
The first test was held between Pakistan and the Republic of India in January 1955. The match started on the first day of the year. The newly built Dacca Stadium (now “Dhaka”-Bangabandhu National Stadium) then had the maximum capacity of accommodating 15,000 spectators. The next match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium was played between Pakistan and New Zealand from 7 to 12 November the same year. The third Test was played at the Bangabandhu National Stadium between Pakistan and West Indies in March 1959. Then came Australia in the November of the same year under the leadership of Richie Benaud. The fifth Test at the Bangabandhu National Stadium was played in January 1962 between Pakistan and England. The next match was also played between Pakistan and England after seven years in February 1969. The last, but not the least, Test between Pakistan and New Zealand was played in November of the same year.
In 1972 the Bangladesh Cricket Control Board was established. Soon after, a cricket league commences in Dhaka and Chittagong. It is a slow start, other things having priority in the war-torn country. Early in 1975 the Dhaka (then “Dacca”) stadium was still in disrepair, the square having sunk several inches and the Press Club shell-torn. In 1974/75 a national level cricket tournament begins in the country. 1st division and 2nd division cricket leagues start at the districts level. Other tournaments that were organised included National Youth Cricket, Inter-university Cricket, College & School Cricket, Shahid Smriti Cricket, Damal Summer Cricket and Star Summer Cricket. In 1976/77 Robin Marlar wrote Whither Bangladesh?, a detailed description of Bangladesh cricket’s state of affairs and a yearning to see Bangladesh in the international stage. Bangladesh Cricket Board officials become more alert and enthusiastic after this international exposure.
After the completion of the 1975–76 domestic season, Bangladesh Cricket Control Board’s acting secretary Reza-e-Karim writes to the International Cricket Council (then called the International Cricket Conference), requesting ICC membership status for Bangladesh. Reza-e-Karim drafts the first constitution of the BCCB and in May 1977 invites the MCC to Bangladesh. In June 1976, the membership of Bangladesh is discussed in an ICC meeting. The meeting decides to finalise Bangladesh’s membership status after the MCC tours Bangladesh. The MCC arrives at Dhaka for their first Bangladesh tour on 27 December 1976 and helps build the enthusiasm; over 40,000 people attends the representative match at Dacca.
On 26 July, 1977, Bangladesh becomes an Associate member of the I.C.C. The BCCB seeks coaching help from the MCC. The MCC sends Bangladesh her first foreign cricket coach, an Englishman named Robert Jones. In January 1978, Sri Lanka, yet to be a test team, tours Bangladesh. In December, the MCC arrives in Bangladesh for the second time in a tour that lasts until 14 January 1979. In 1979 Bangladesh appears in the first ICC trophy in England. Bangladeshis win matches against Fiji and Malaysia.
In March 1986, Bangladesh takes part in the Second Asia Cup in Sri Lanka, and plays its first ever One Day International match against Pakistan (Bangladesh was still not a full member of ICC). The tournament gives Bangladesh players international exposure. In June 1986, Bangladesh flies to England to take part in the third ICC trophy. Earlier in the year, Bangladesh toured Pakistan for the first time. The Third Asia Cup takes place in Bangladesh in October–November 1988 with India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka participating as well as the host country. Bangladesh won the Sixth ICC trophy in Malaysia in 1997. Bangladesh also becomes a regular ICC member with the right to play One Day Internationals. Earlier, (in Feb), Dhaka hosted the 3rd & final SAARC cricket tournament. In 1999, Bangladesh performed in the 7th Cricket World Cup in England. In a group match, Bangladesh defeats Pakistan.
Bangladesh attains the status of a test playing country on 26 June 2000. Bangladesh’s inaugural Test match takes place in Dhaka against touring India on 10–14 November 2000. Bangladesh Cricket Team has made the nation proud as they reached the quarter final of ICC Cricket World Cup first ever in the history defeating England. But England earned their second successive victory at the Twenty20 World Cup as they defeated Bangladesh by eight-wicket on 27 October 2021 in the two nations' first ever meeting in the format.
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