Dhaka: The cricketers of Bangladesh’s maiden Test will reunite tomorrow (Thursday) at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium as part of the week-long celebration of the 25 years of the country’s Test status. Bangladesh elevated as a Test nation and entered the elite club of world cricket on June 26, 2000, although they played their first Test on November 10 of that year.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul expressed his excitement while celebrating the silver jubilee of Test status at the Riya Gop Women’s Complex in Dhanmondi today. “We are lucky to have played the country’s maiden Test,” he said. “We have invited all members of the first Test to the cricket board tomorrow. Basically, we want to go back to those days, to make sure that our cricket friendship remains intact.”
To commemorate the occasion, the BCB will present the maiden Test squad members with commemorative blazers and caps. Youth and Sports adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan has agreed to attend the event as the chief guest. The Test members will partake in a cake-cutting ceremony followed by a photo session.
Aminul, who was a member of Bangladesh’s first Test team and the country’s first Test centurion, initiated the celebration of the silver jubilee after assuming the role of BCB President last month. He reminisced about the early days, acknowledging the contributions of previous cricketers like Faruque Ahmed, Atahar Ali, and Minhajul Abedin, who did not have the opportunity to play Tests. “We considered ourselves lucky because we were able to play in the first Test,” Aminul stated.
To mark the significant achievement in cricket, the BCB is organizing a variety of events across the country. An Under-12 six-a-side tournament is underway in divisional cities, accompanied by a pacer and spinner hunt and interactive fan experiences. Additionally, a commentary booth and a Good Luck Wish Board have been set up.
Aminul highlighted two main reasons for celebrating the silver jubilee with events nationwide. “We organized the program for two reasons – one is to celebrate 25 years of Test cricket,” he explained. “The other is to give a wake-up call as cricket seemed to have been in hibernation mode in many places of the country. We were able to do this very successfully.”