{2003} Article about Bangladesh Cricket in Australian paper....

[deshitrader]

Be forewarned...this is not the most uplifting article. (I am cutting&pasting and also providing the link.)

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/20...683410844.html

Bangladesh cricket: from bad to worse

October 30 2002


World cricket has a problem at the top of the pecking order. Australia's slaughter of the lambs of Pakistan made that clear, and the arrogant and contemptuous reception for the England team upon arrival in this country reinforced it. Tyranny is no good even for the tyrants.

But the game has an equally disturbing problem with lack of competitiveness at the bottom. Two years after Bangladesh's induction as a Test-playing country, the experiment can be seen to have failed so dismally as to raise questions about why it was ever begun, and whether there is any worth in persevering with it.

Bangladesh has played 15 Tests. It has lost 14, 10 of them by an innings, and the others by margins of nine wickets, eight wickets, eight wickets and 288 runs. Its only other result was a draw with Zimbabwe, which was on the point of delivering another crushing defeat when monsoonal rain washed out the last two days in Dhaka. Generally, three days is enough anyway.

Bangladesh reached 400 in its first Test innings, but not since. Its 252 while losing by an innings to South Africa last week was its first score beyond 200 for 13 innings. It has only once bowled a team out for less than 400, and never bowled a team out twice. One day, five Pakistanis made centuries against it in one innings.

It is averaging 19.3 runs a wicket when batting and 59.1 runs a wicket when bowling. It is the worst beginning a Test team has made. And it has not played Australia yet.


The one-day story is the same. Bangladesh has played 58 internationals for three wins, two over fellow minnows Kenya and Scotland, and one over Pakistan in the most doubtful result of the 1999 World Cup. For perspective, Kenya - a non-Test nation - has beaten Bangladesh five times. Notwithstanding, Bangladesh arrived home to a ticker tape parade and a hero's welcome.

Bangladesh was rushed into Test cricket soon after that World Cup. Partly, it was because of the determination of Jagmohan Dalmiya, the maverick Indian, to make a grand gesture as he left the International Cricket Council presidency. Dalmiya unilaterally promised it to Bangladesh's prime minister.

Partly, it was because of the suave salesmanship of the head of the Bangladeshi board, Saber Hossain Chowdry, who toured the cricket-playing world to preach about how his country had the infrastructure, crowds and sponsorships. Oddly, there was little mention then of a team. But Australia, for one, was impressed.

Partly, it was of the ICC's commitment to expand the game beyond its traditional horizons, and to make its new Test championship work. Without new teams, its new ladder would look more like a footstool. Bangladesh, with a population of 130 million, would need only the inspiration that its own team on the world stage would bring to grow quickly into a force. Thus it was preferred to Kenya, which was better credentialled, but where cricket was a marginal sport.

Its intentions were worthy, its haste indecent. Some of the thinking looks muddle-headed. It takes only a little reading to discover that cricket enjoyed only moderate popularity in the old East Pakistan, and had been swamped by soccer since independence in 1971.

Moreover, it was played exclusively in one-day format. There was no first-class competition until a kind of one was hastily formed when its Test candidacy was accepted. It is scarcely a wonder that it is struggling to develop players who can play for days at a time.

Bangladesh's administration has proved as mercurial as all the countries of the subcontinent. A series of coaches have come and gone. The latest was Australian Trevor Chappell. West Indian great Gordon Greenidge guided the team to victory in the 1997 ICC Trophy and through the 1999 World Cup, but in the same instant was sacked for saying the country was not ready yet for Test cricket. Not for the first time in history, the messenger was shot.

Contrast that with Kenya, which had a hardier team with a longer record of competitiveness, but whose coach, Sandip Patil, also said then that his team was not ready. "We don't want to be easy meat for others," Patil told eminent Indian cricket journalist Kuldip Lal, "but our time will come."

No one in Bangladesh was so sagacious. Bangladesh at the time of its promotion was still losing regularly and heavily to New Zealand provincial teams. Too much haste was made too quickly, and today, it is further away from its maiden Test victory than ever. South Africa beat it by an innings in both Tests of their current series.

The record books grow more and more distorted. Graeme Smith, playing only his third Test for South Africa, made 200 last week. In July next year, Australia will play Tests against Bangladesh, as per its obligation to the 10-year cycle, in Cairns and Darwin. It is a depressing prospect.

Far from invigorating cricket in the country, the game is at risk of being demoralised there. Cricket in England declined with its teams' fortunes, and is in a sick state in the West Indies, too.

Moreover, the international community looks to be averting its gaze from Bangladesh. It offered itself as a venue for the Australia/Pakistan series, which at least would have guaranteed a crowd of sorts, but Sharjah was preferred.

Cricket has never been so lopsided. Poor Zimbabwe has won just seven of its 63 Tests, three against Bangladesh. The West Indies are at a low ebb, with only four wins in their past 30 matches, with little hope of a turning of the tide. Nine of the last 22 series played anywhere in the world have been whitewashes.

Cricket has more money and less competition than ever, although the money will soon disappear if the competition does not tighten up. In that light, the recent refusal of Kenya's application for Test status can be regarded only a blessing.

Cricket cannot afford another Bangladesh.


Start with a whimper - Bangladesh's Test record

Nov 2000 lost India 9 wickets

Apr 2001 lost Zimbabwe innings and 32 runs

Apr 2001 lost Zimbabwe 8 wickets

Aug 2001 lost Pakistan innings and 264

Sep 2001 lost Sri Lanka innings and 137

Nov 2001 drew with Zimbabwe

Nov 2001 lost Zimbabwe 8 wickets

Dec 2001 lost New Zealand innings and 52

Dec 2001 lost NZ innings and 74

Jan 2002 lost Pakistan innings and 178

Jan 2002 lost Pak innings and 169

Jul 2002 lost Sri Lanka innings and 196

Jul 2002 lost SL 288 runs

Oct 2002 lost South Africa innings and 107

Oct 2002 lost S Africa innings and 160

[DOORBIN]

Deshitrader

I read that article long time ago, probably during mid December 2002.

I was really upset after reading it. It did not match my analysis of Bangladesh team. As a matter of fact, this is how I joined banglacricket.com.

I felt bad. Disappointed. Then I blamed myself. How come have I lost touch with Bangladesh cricket? Channel 9 never showed a Bangladesh cricket match. I watched a glimpse of one match on FOXTEL while I was on a business discussion.... I think it was against South Africa.

I never imagined a website with such a forum was available. I knew there were some websites.... but a forum such as this was a BONUS.

Now, back to that article.....

Time will tell.

I am waiting for July 2003. Planning a 3 week holiday. Cairns (QUEENSLAND) is a beautiful small city. Darwin (NORTHERN TERRITORY) is also a small city but with a large multicultural population.

I am getting organised.

I can clearly see at least one win belonging to Bangladesh. Yes. Positively.

[Mahmood]

Far from invigorating cricket in the country, the game is at risk of being demoralised there.

Openion, not fact. Popularity of Cricket is growing rapidly in BD. More and more people will turn to cricket with time. All these loss hurts us, but cant push us away.

[fwullah]

Openion, not fact. Popularity of Cricket is growing rapidly in BD. More and more people will turn to cricket with time. All these loss hurts us, but cant push us away.

I liked the words. I would also like to add:

Sunshine comes after rain. That is, if we are not faced with so many losses, then where on earth will a win come?

In fact - the 4-1 win against Namibia did not come easily - even though they were practice matches. And because they were practice matches, the exposure was not there, so the hunger for victory still remains.

Did you read on Daily Star today that there was only 1 reporter at the official press conference of Bangladesh? It made Khaled Mashud embarassed and so the organizers had to cancel the press conference.

I say that when Bangladeshi reporters are not interested enough as to go out there and attend the official press conference of the Bangladesh team (yes I mean to go to South Africa by now and attend the conference), then why should the foreign reporters be interested to shake their legs off and attend the press conference?

[Mahmood]

If I was a BD player and only 1 reporter showed up to my team's wc press conference, I would be so humiliated, I would go to the match with one goal in mind, either I will play the best match or die at the field.

I wish our players had some self respect.

[fwullah]

Rajputro, your words have made me wonder even more what Pilot told his team mates returning to hotel after watching just 1 reporter at the conference.

Are our Bengali reporters good enough to get that news?

[Tehsin]

Calling on our aussie connection. We will depend on you during the tour for bird's eye view commentaries. How about that ?

[DOORBIN]

Will do.

[Sham]

Yeah, the one reporter turning up is quite embarassing. But writing stories about BD or getting a quote from Pilot isn't going to sell newspapers in SA, so why would they bother?

I agree with Fwullah though. Why aren't our reporters in South Africa already, feeding us inside scoops on practice sessions and teams strategies. I bet in the British newspapers they are providing daily updates on what their team is upto. This is the World Cup for crying out loud. The summer Olympics apart, this is the biggest sporting event we take part in, and from our point of view, this is bigger than the Olympics. You would think that the newspapers would send their guys out early and give us the scoop. I was very disappointed that they didn't send reporters to Namibia either.

[Edited on 2-2-2003 by Sham]

[Tehsin]

Aren't you forgetting something ?
Our people are just not professional. I am sory to say that. There are some and there are certainly many among the NRBs but the one's at home are still far from being professional. Heck, look at our players, they play like bunch of ametuers out on a picnic match on the weekend.

[DOORBIN]

What is professional and what is not professional is a matter of debate.

To some people someone is professional, to another group of people that same person may not be professional.

By American standards majority of Bangladeshi professionals are certainly not professional. Australian standards are different. Bangladesh standards are also different. Who will teach them professionalism? The people who could teach them have flown out of the country. There are some people in the country [still remaining] who know international standards. But KE SHONEY KAR KOTHA?
..... BIRALER GOLAY GHONTA BANDHBEY KE ?

What's missing then? One word, and one word only. D I S C I P L I N E.

Sorry, didn't discuss much about cricket this time.

PRESENT MOOD : OSHANTO

[rafiq]

interesting thoughts on professionlism.

in the US, I have been working with a few Bangladeshi technology entrepreneurs, helping them plan for and launch new companies. one observation is that we do real well when in multi-cultural environments where we are following discipline and standards set by the industry at large. but when it comes to running our own show, somehow the discipline breaks down. there are many examples where this is not true, but the point is this "professionalism" problem can follow us wherever we go, doesn't just have to be in bangladesh.

On the other hand, I know plenty of business and social work people in bangladesh who are very professional, but things are just done in a different way. it's all relative.

[DOORBIN]

Earlier in this SUBJECT I mentioned I was positive about ONE win by Bangladesh against Australia.

I was expecting some hard comments, but I was surprised to see no comments at all!

You guys are too nice. Probably you decided not to comment that can hurt my feelings.

Can Bangladesh really win one out of 3 ODIs against Australia ?

This is why I have said YES with such confidence.

1) Bangladesh will play some practice matches, especially targetting at least ONE WIN. On the other hand the Austrlian team will not. They will remain relaxed.

2) The Darwin and Cairns stadiums are also new to Australian team as they don't play in those fields. In Australia, the big matches are held in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart.
The Cairns and Darwin fields will be NEW to both teams.

3) The 2 tests will be held first. Chances are 98% Australia will win. I will be jumping up and down in the stadium for 20 minutes if Bangladesh can manage one DRAW. (And that's how you people from around the world can recognise me!!!)

4) After the 2 tests will be the ODIs. Bangladesh will have had enough bitter experience during the 2 tests already. They will be really determined to establish one win. Chances are they will be beaten really badly in the 1st ODI (big margin)

5) Second ODI will be better for Bangladesh. This way they will be motivated and will really get ready for a CRICKET MUKTIJUDDHO for the 3rd ODI. Plus, in the 2 fields, 80 - 90% supporters will be Bangladeshis and sub-continentals, therefore, Bangladesh will enjoy full support. This time they will really want to give supporters a little bit of value for their money, time and patience. Plus the players will have received a lot of old fashioned JHARIs from some Aussie-Bangla mastans. And then ?????? ........

Probably a nice story to be sold in the DOLLYWOOD market ?

COPYRIGHT : DOORBIN

[fwullah]

DOORBIN, you are forgetting - this is going to be the first time ever that Bangladesh will play a one day series against Australia in Australia.

And the series consists of just 3 matches.

If Bangladesh was to play in the VB series, where the players could get a chance to play 12 - 15 games on the trot against 2 oppositions, then your votes of confidence could have been OK.

But only 3 games? Not possible.

Professionalism under Bangladesh caps meaning showing some heart. And even by those terms, the reporters - Bangladeshi reporters are simply heart-less especially in this World Cup.

[DOORBIN]

fwullah,

I know what you mean.

But you know what? Strong emotion does have some value. It does produce a lot of impact. The fact that Bangladesh has 130 million people and cricket is a very popular sport in this country has always been a major consideration to ICC.

Strong emotion made us an independent country. Remember it. It's a fact. Again, that strong emotion will result in our winning our 1st test match within a REASONABLE time.

Now - after reading your comments should I not go to Cairns and Darwin? If I know for sure Bangladesh will lose, I will not go. But I am not sure about that. I still have a 5% probability in favour of my dream. THEREFORE, I WILL GO, NO MATTER WHAT. As a supporter, I will do my best for Bangladesh to win.

Plus, after a long period of lack of practice, I am starting to forget my JHARIs..... need to recover that valuable skill.

[deshitrader]

Doorbin,

You should plan on going regardless of whether you think there is any chance whatsoever of Banglaesh winning. The sign of a true, die-hard fan is the willingness to keep supporting the team even in the face of defeat after defeat. That is difficult to do...but it will make victory all the more sweet when it finally comes...you will be in a position to declare proudly that you stuck with the team through the worst of times.

All this brings back very fond memories of May 31, 1999. A number of us Bangladeshis were watching the match at MIT...of course, no one in their rational mindset thought Bangladesh would win...but there were the odd one or two among us who harbored a faint bit of hope in the corner of our hearts. And when it did happen, it truly was a moving experience. I will remember that day very fondly for a long time to come.

[James90]

If BD ever plays at the Gabba DOORBIN come up so me can meet but you have to get there like 3 hours early to get a seat.....then again who would want to see BD???It took me an hour to get into the first day of the Ashes

[DOORBIN]

Habibul_fan,

Aren't you planning to go there in July ?

[Pundit]

Deshi_Trader..what were u doing at MIT ? I thought Arnab went to MIT - he surely talks like a MIT-ian.

Where did u go to school in Dhaka, if you at all webt to school in Dhaka ?????

ME Curious !!!!!

[Sham]

I was going to ask you whether you were serious about that ONE WIN comment. Then I figured that there was no way that you were serious!

Now that I know that you were serious, let me give it to you straight. There is NO chance that Bangladesh will win any matches against Australia, Test or ODIs. I would go further to say that Bangladesh will not win a single match on the tour, but I don't want to sound too pessimistic. The thing is, there is no shame in losing to Australia. They are the best test side by far, and we are the worst test side by far. And it wont matter if we play in Mars, they will beat us inside three days in the Tests.

Now, why should we still follow the matches and get excited about them? Because our aspirations right now with regards to our team does not include winning matches on a tour to Australia. Even England only won a handful of games in their most recent tour. Our main aim is to start playing to the best of our ability consistently. We have good days here and there, or more like good sessions. If we start doing that consistently, sooner or later, we will start competing with the other Test sides. As for this particular tour to Australia, we will get hammered. Lets first learn to beat teams like Namibia comprehensively, not by 1 wicket or 9 runs, and then we can set our sights on the Aussies.

To give you some good advice, only buy tickets to the first and second days in advance. Don't make the mistake of buying tickets for the 3rd, 4th or 5th days, unless you can get a full refund! Sorry for bursting your bubble, keep hoping for a miracle I suppose but it will have to be the miracle of the century for you to get the opportunity to jump up and down for 20 minutes. Jump up and down anyway I say!

[Edited on 4-2-2003 by Sham]

[Pundit]

Playing in Mars ? Scratch, Scratch ! I thought Doorbin was FROM Mars.

Doorbin, read Sham's note word to word -you will be reminded of his comments everytime BD plays, for quite some time to come.

Hey, H_fan, do you play KANGA ? Maybe that's what we ought to be doing when BD visits Australia.

[DOORBIN]

Pundit,

I repeat - you really ARE a Pundit.

Now, I have taken your comments as a compliment.

Tell me now, which school did you go to ?
I mean, in Dhaka ?

[deshitrader]

hi pundit,

i was a grad student at harvard at the time. since there were more bangladeshis at mit than at harvard, we watched the matches there. i went to siddiqui's and maple leaf in dhaka. what about you?

[James90]

my cricket's a little more advanced than that.....like real cricket usually on synthetic occasionally on turf.....real gear, real scores, LBW everything, career achievements, trophies, real cricket!!!

Have any of the ppl on the board player "REAL CRICKET"

[DOORBIN]

My mission has been successful. I am a practical man of business and there is always an objective of my doing anything.

1) I joined banglacricket.com to update my knowledge of Bangladesh cricket -- JDS.

(JDS means 'job done satisfactorily')

2) To research and see what is the level of enthusiasm about Bangladesh cricket outside Bangladesh - JDS.

3) Explore e-business opportunities - JDS

4) See how the young generation Bangladeshis communicate and how they relate to each other - JDS

5) Look at a long term view in relation to Bangladesh cricket - JDS.

6) Test how good and efficient a Bangladehi website can be - JDS.

Now, after joining, I discovered the site was kind of BORING. There was a lot of information on cricket, but not that much fun. As a manager, I set an objective to give this forum a JHARA (not JHARI, please don't misinterpret ). One day I started working on this project --- Arnab, do you remember? "ARRE BABA, have some fun, deliver some JHARIs.......". Today, I can see this forum is JOMJOMAT. --- JDS again.

There is no need for me now. I'll go and join another forum and deliver some JHARIs over there. And, of course, some CHAPABAJI as well as a side dish....

You all are mostly Engineers or engineering students at MIT, Harvard, Stanford, UCLA etc. It was wonderful to meet you all. I am a Manager, just the opposite of your type. Some people are scientific managers (meaning they use the Science of Management more than the Art of Management), I know the Science side of it quite well, however, I am more of an Artistic type of Manager. I represent the Bangladeshi standard of a business manager living overseas.

Before I go, as a background to my identity, if I really have to mention the name of an educational institution, I will actually mention 2 names not one - Rajshahi Cadet College and the University of Dhaka.

I will be quite busy, will look into the forum from time to time, but will possibly not write as much, only occassionally may be......

Best of luck and good wishes.