From the Stands to the Streets: My Journey as a Bangladesh Cricket Fan

Being a Bangladesh cricket fan is never easy. One has to face many heart breaks. But things are not always the same. I still remember, when I saw the first live cricket match of Bangladesh. It was in 2015. I was switching channels on tv and I suddenly saw a match is live of Bangladesh vs England. Bangladesh scored 275/7 and England scored 260/8 in 48th over. England need 16 runs from 12 balls and Rubel Hossain is bowling. In the 48.1th over, Rubel Hossain bowled Stuart Broad and I heard firework and the shouting of my neighbors. I also became so happy at this moment. The next ball was a dot ball. Again, in the 48.3th over, Rubel Hossain bowled James Anderson and Bangladesh won the match by 15 runs. Later, I found that Bangladesh reached in the quarter final of 2015 ODI world cup by winning that match and from here, my journey as a Bangladesh cricket fan has started. In the quarter final, Bangladesh has lost against India and I got my first heart break from Bangladesh cricket team.

Bangladesh was very strong in ODI from 2015 to 2017. Bangladesh won ODI series against Pakistan, India, South Africa on that period. In 2017 champions trophy, Bangladesh achieved a historic win against New Zealand from 33/4 to 268/5. It was a memorable match for me as I watched this full match with my father until late night. When Bangladesh was on 33/4, my dad told me to sleep as it was 12.30am. I told him that it was still possible for Bangladesh. After then, the magic happened. Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah Riyad both scored centuries and took the match away from New Zealand. 

In Nidahas trophy 2018, there was a match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. It was a do or die match for Bangladesh. As Bangladesh need 6 runs from 2 balls, Mahmudullah Riyad smashed a huge six and they won the match. Australian fast bowler Brett Lee was commentering the match and he became stunned after watching that six.

 Those are my most memorable matches of Bangladesh. There are also some matches, which I want to forgot. As, I said earlier that being a Bangladesh cricket fan is not easy. In Nidahas trophy 2018 final, Bangladesh needed to defend 5 runs from 1 ball against India and from there, we lost the match. Again, in Asia cup 2018 final, after a brilliant century of Liton Das, Bangladesh could not achieved the win against India. In 2022 T20I world cup, again a good start from Liton Das but Bangladesh could not manage to win against India. India won the match by only 5 runs and those small margin of loses breaks a fan mentally. I noticed that most of the heart break match of Bangladesh is against India.

 Bangladesh is not that strong in T20I and Test as ODI. But in recent times, they are improving in T20I and Test sectors. In 2017, Bangladesh won a test match against Australia at home. Though it was not an easy win but Bangladesh managed to win by only 20 runs. In 2022, Bangladesh creates a historic test victory against New Zealand in New Zealand. All credit goes to Ebadot Hossain, who picked up 6 wickets in the 2^nd innings of New Zealand. Bangladesh won a test series against Pakistan recently on September, 2024.

In T20I, in 2021, during the covid, Bangladesh won a 5 matches series 4-1 against Australia. After a 1.5 years gap, watching a game of Bangladesh cricket is joyful. The 4-1 series win makes it more joyful. In 2023, Bangladesh whitewashed 3-0 England in a T20I series. In 2024 T20I world cup, Bangladesh almost managed to go to the semifinals. But a lost against Afghanistan spoiled everything. Afghanistan

only won by only 8 runs in that match.

Bangladesh cricket team is so strong in their home condition. But in outside, they are not as good as home. The main reason is the condition of pitch. Most of the game of Bangladesh is played on Mirpur. Mirpur pitch condition is bowling friendly. But in the ICC event, most of the pitches are batting friendly. As a result, Bangladesh failed to play well in most of the ICC event such as ODI world cup, T20I world cup, Champions trophy. It can be solved by making batting pitch on Mirpur. Chittagong pitch is a complete batting friendly pitch. So, BCB (Bangladesh Cricket Board) should arrange more matches on Chittagong.  

Finally, I can say, Bangladesh cricket has many ups and downs and as a fan I will support them in every situation. From 2015, I have started watching them. They became an emotion for every fan. Often, I see, when they lost a match, fans become upset and some of them even crying. I have a dream of going on stadium to see a live cricket match of Bangladesh. I live in Dhaka. Still, I did not have the opportunity yet. But I hope this dream of mine become true soon.