When a religion called cricket took over

Chittagong, May 15: This may not be the cricket capital of the country, but there is a religion that bursts through its veins like the rest of Bangladesh -- they call it cricket.

Be it Dhaka or Chittagong, cricket is the game that unites the nation. It's like a magic mantra that adds a spring to the step, a bounce to the weary souls and a ray of hope to the tired hearts.

If Dhaka is the nation's capital with some of the best monuments spread around like gems in the crown, Chittagong, ensconced between the rugged mountains and an emerald sea, is a picturesque city and busiest port of the country.

The Chittagong region was under the kingdom of Arakan during sixth and seventh centuries, before Sultan Giasuddin Mahmud Shah lost it to Sher Shah in 1538, while Dhaka has been a part of Mughal land from the beginning.

Such a beautiful country with such a romantic history is sure to have its own history in cricket, if we are to believe it from the present. Cricket is omnipresent, be it a patch of grassland, a dust bowl, an open field or a regular club.

Children in track suits to lungis and kurtas play the game and with utter seriousness. They contest each run, savour each stroke, fight for each victory and at the end of it the usual slogan 'Sabash Bangladesh' (Well done Bangladesh!).

One such youngster, Mustaq, says, ''Tamim is our new hero. We all want to bat like him.'' Another boy Raja jumps in, ''My favourite is Mohammed Ashrafful. He is such a good stroke player.'' They are disappointed that their team has not won it in this series, but are hopeful that the game here, if it at all gets underway would go in their favour.

''Bangladesh is playing for pride,'' Raja said.

True is the sense of pride, that differentiates a nation from a great nation, as 15,000 odd people queued up before the gates of Bir Srestha Saheed Nurul Amin Stadium today braving a gale wind and early morning torrents to get into the stadium, when the most diligent optimist would have thought otherwise.

But the depth of cricket in any country is known from the level of domestic cricket played there. Bangladesh inherited a rich cricketing history as it was initially part of Bengal and then East Pakistan. Dhaka Stadium (Current BNS) hosted test matches during Pakistan era. After gaining independence it took a while to enter into the world cricketing arena. In 1976-77 an MCC side first toured Bangladesh which was followed by unofficial and official tours by different teams of test playing nations.

Bangladesh gained associate membership of International Cricket Council (ICC) in 1976 and in 1979 first participated in the ICC trophy. In 1994-95 England became the first test playing nation to send its A team to Bangladesh. Bangladesh enjoyed limited success in ICC trophy and against different touring teams yet cricket gained enormous popularity in the country. Bangladesh finally won 1997 ICC trophy and qualified for the 1999 World Cup for the first time.

After a dream 1999 World Cup in which they defeated Pakistan, Bangladesh gained the test status in the year 2000.

At the time of gaining test status there was no first class cricket league in Bangladesh. Prior to gaining test status, Bangladesh started a national cricket league involving 12 teams which was not a first class tournament. During that time, Dhaka Premier Cricket League which is a limited over tournament was the main cricket competition in the country. Cricket league was played in almost every district town but all were shorter version of the game.

Bangladesh started its maiden first class competition under the name 'National Cricket League' involving six divisional teams (Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet) Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Dhaka Metropolitan team from 2000-2001 session. A national one day (list A) league also started from the same season. From 2001-2002 season, National Cricket League involves six divisional teams. These six teams play each other home and away once in a league.

Chittagong itself has its own Premier League now followed by first class and divisional cricket, with some 22 teams participating. Some of the major clubs are Chittagong Port Authority, Chittagong City Corporation, Abahani and Mohammedan clubs.

Even at a time when there is political uncertainty in the country and everyday arrest are made and secret meetings raided, it's cricket that binds the nation together and raises hopes of a progressive Bangladesh right from the 22-yards.

UNI