Sylhet:Cricket authorities in Sylhet are focusing on tea garden communities and ethnic groups as potential sources of talent to revitalize the region's grassroots cricket structure. The move aims to expand cricket beyond traditional centers by identifying and nurturing young talent from these communities through organized competitions and talent-hunting programs.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Abdul Quiyum Choudhury, a director-elected from Sylhet at the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), emphasized the need to explore the sporting potential of these communities. Despite their significant contributions to other sports, their involvement in cricket has been limited. Choudhury highlighted the past success of indigenous players in Sylhet's hockey tradition, suggesting a similar potential exists for cricket if young people from tea gardens are encouraged to participate.
An inter-tea-garden cricket tournament is proposed as a platform for showcasing talent, with the potential to identify promising cricketers from areas traditionally outside the mainstream cricket development network. Such initiatives aim not only to discover talent but also to increase organized sporting activities and social participation among these communities.
Rezaul Karim Nachon, member secretary of the Sylhet District Sports Association, stressed the importance of restoring competitive local cricket to revive Sylhet's tradition of producing national-level players. He recalled the region's past success during the 2003-04 and 2004-05 National Cricket League seasons, which saw multiple Sylhet players represent the national team. However, the lack of continuity in domestic competitions has weakened the talent-development pathway.
Efforts are underway to ensure regular competitions, expand school and age-group cricket, and focus more on women's cricket. Challenges include infrastructure limitations, as Sylhet lacks a dedicated cricket ground, with existing facilities requiring significant improvements. The administration is considering developing additional grounds or stadiums to support uninterrupted sports activities.
The proposed initiative seeks to create sustainable opportunities for tea-garden youngsters, moving them beyond informal participation into the organized cricket system. Choudhury also envisions broader social and economic benefits from expanding cricket in underrepresented communities, aiming for sports development beyond established urban centers.