Inception victory of an undeveloped team

The British have sown the seeds of cricket wherever they have established their colonies. After gaining independence from colonial rule and being recognized as sovereign nations, some countries have been able to nurture the seeds and transform them into thriving trees. Now, it's those very nations that are governing the world of cricket. However, despite cricket being practiced during the initial British colonization in America, that trend did not persist. Although the sport initially gained considerable popularity there, its popularity eventually declined at a certain stage.

After gaining independence, America's expansion gradually increases as different states are added one by one. This contributes to the growth of the country in terms of both its territory and diversity. With the amalgamation of various races, ethnicities, languages, and cultures, the nation's independence and individuality are established. As a result, Americans gradually distance themselves from British influence. In various aspects such as language, culture, politics, architecture, and even subtle social customs, differences between the two countries are observed. Despite both countries sharing English as a language, there are significant variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions. Americans consciously create this difference.

Similarly, changes occur in the sports arena of both countries. Momentum is a fundamental principle in the lives of Americans. Where there is no momentum, they tend not to be very interested. Due to their distinctive nature, even on the playing field, one can see the reflection of this. The popularity of fast-paced games like baseball, basketball, and soccer in the United States is extremely high. Due to this, there is no inherent reason for Americans to be attracted to cricket, which is known for its slower pace. It doesn't quite align with their temperament. However, introducing anything globally significant without American involvement is also not straightforward.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has indeed managed to grasp that. And in this realm, they've shuffled the deck with the emergence of T20 cricket. The pace, excitement, and dynamism of this game resonate quite well with the temperament of Americans, embodying their spirit of vigor and courage. Alongside thrilling batting, there are dazzling cheerleaders, loud music, and a glamorous atmosphere. In other words, it contains all the elements of entertainment that can entice Americans. However, even when they embrace something, it is their natural characteristic to blend in their own ideas and create an Americanized version of it. Eventually, this becomes recognized as a distinct style. There is ample opportunity to do the same with T20 cricket. If Americanized, not only would cricket's current state undergo a transformation, but its appreciation and marketability would also likely increase significantly.

Moreover, the number of South Asian residents in the United States is steadily increasing. They have a significant fascination with cricket and often play the sport during their leisure time. They have played a considerable role in forming the United States cricket team. Taking these factors into account, the United States has been chosen as one of the two host countries for this year's T20 World Cup. The other is the West Indies. Despite the camaraderie and friendliness, there is still some doubt about how much Americans will embrace cricket, a sport known to be associated with the British.

Why is Bangladesh lagging behind in cricket despite being a former British colony? The British-occupied colonies included the Indian subcontinent, which is today’s India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. During their 190 years of rule, the British were quite successful in generating interest and imparting knowledge about cricket to the people of this region. In that continuity, all three countries in the subcontinent have secured their place in the elite cricketing sphere. However, while India and Pakistan have managed to establish themselves as dominant teams, Bangladesh has not been able to achieve the same level of success. Yet, after the Indian subcontinent's partition, and during the era of Pakistan, there was no shortage of cricket practice in East Bengal, or East Pakistan. During British rule, cricket spread across various regions of East Bengal, with the zamindars and wealthy classes primarily coming forward to sponsor the sport.

In the following years, the success of the Pakistan cricket team inspired and energized sports enthusiasts in what was then East Bengal and later East Pakistan. For many, cricket became a passion and a way of life. Various educational institutions, in particular, became nurturing centers for cricket. Despite this, cricket could not establish a strong foundation in this region. In the 24 years of the Pakistan era, no Bengali cricketer from East Pakistan got the opportunity to play Test cricket. Bengali cricketers from East Pakistan struggled to compete with their counterparts from West Pakistan in various tournaments. During that time, Abdul Hafeez Kardar, the first captain of the Pakistan Test cricket team, frequently visited East Pakistan for matches and various other activities. He had remarked during that time that the climate, conditions, and other factors in East Pakistan were not conducive to playing cricket. However, he later retracted this statement.

Despite its long-standing involvement in cricket and efforts to discuss and train, Bangladesh has not been able to achieve its desired goals. While occasionally shining in international cricket, it has yet to produce significant results in major tournaments like the World Cup. There seems to be a lack of consistency in Bangladesh's cricket. The flame flickers but fails to sustain itself. Although Bangladesh has achieved moderate success in ICC One Day Cricket World Cup, their performance in the T20 World Cup has been quite disappointing. Not only in the World Cup, but Bangladesh's performance in the T20 format has also not been shining.

However, after performances like losing the T20 series to the United States and unconditional surrender to India in the preparation match, Bangladesh's victory in their first match against Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup is commendable. Yet, the final triumph ended up feeling diminished. Because while chasing Sri Lanka's 124 runs for 9 wickets, Bangladesh at one point was left with an equation of needing 11 runs off 12 balls with only 2 wickets in hand. In this situation, anything could have happened. Nonetheless, Bangladesh's victory is indeed a cause for celebration. However, it is true that in terms of strength, Bangladeshi athletes have rarely been able to inspire hope. T20 cricket, after all, is a game of strength, skill, and courage. This might be why Bangladesh has struggled to shine in the shorter format of the game. Bangladesh's chief selector, Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu, has stated that Bangladesh is still not a mature team in T20 cricket.

With an immature team, Bangladesh has embarked on their T20 World Cup mission in the United States and the West Indies. Previously, they have returned bitterly disappointed despite high expectations. The team's dismal condition was evident in the preparation matches. A World Cup doesn't come around suddenly. Every team undergoes extensive preparation for it. They strive to showcase their best performance with their best team in the tournament. Even the smaller teams are eager to achieve something memorable.

Bangladesh is not an exception when it comes to having high hopes for participating in the World Cup. However, there has been considerable debate over the composition of the World Cup squad. Yet, even before the start of the World Cup, there's a sense of uncertainty within the team. It seems that the enthusiasm, ambition, and vigor that Bangladesh usually brings to the table are somewhat lacking this time. It's as if something has dampened the spirits. Cricketers are not able to invest themselves properly in the game. There seems to be a lack of enthusiasm among themselves. The team's mainstay, Shakib Al Hasan, has been involved in various controversies, including his 'second home' in the United States. Naturally, this diversion of attention from the game is not unusual. Shakib often finds himself in some controversy or the other. However, he manages to brush it off when he steps onto the field. Due to age, whether he can display the same magic as before, that's something to consider.

Even if he expresses a desire for another World Cup, is that just talk? Without that, there's still the question of whether he'll have the ability to play. From that perspective, this might be his last World Cup. Rohit Sharma of India and Shakib are the only players to have played in all T20 World Cups. Shakib has taken the most wickets in World Cups. Given this, cricket enthusiasts believe he will be more focused on making this World Cup memorable. He can make a significant contribution to boosting the morale of the team. Instead of focusing on discipline, the team is enjoying the excitement of their trip to the United States, according to reports in the media. If the cricketers have such an attitude, there is a significant chance of the team facing a downfall.

Author: Editor, Krirajagat