Shahriar Palash, a media professional and entrepreneur, once had an unwavering passion for cricket. Despite his busy schedule, he regularly followed the sport and attended numerous matches at the Mirpur Stadium, the heart of cricket in Bangladesh. However, he now admits, "I don't watch cricket anymore. I've lost interest. There was a time when I would go to any lengths to watch a match in Dhaka, even skipping work. But that urge is gone now."
Shahriar Palash is not alone. Many ardent cricket fans are gradually losing their enthusiasm for the game. This report delves into the reasons behind this shift. Before cricket's rise, football was the dominant sport in Bangladesh, drawing packed crowds to the stadiums. Matches between arch-rivals Abahani and Mohammedan were so significant that they felt like national events, with streets emptying as fans flocked to the games. Footballers frequently played in foreign leagues, but those days have faded. Cricket's popularity surged after Bangladesh won the ICC Trophy in 1997, overshadowing football.
This month marks two decades of Bangladesh's journey in Test cricket. Over this period, the Tigers have played 148 Test matches, winning only 21, losing 108, and drawing 19. T20 cricket has also been challenging for Bangladesh, with 179 matches played since 2006, resulting in 68 wins and 107 losses.
Despite losing the Multan Test in 2004, Bangladesh won the hearts of fans. The excitement of defeating cricket giants like India and South Africa in the 2007 ODI World Cup sparked a nationwide cricket frenzy. Among the three formats, ODIs have been a source of some pride for Bangladesh. Out of 441 one-day matches, they have won 160 and lost 271. However, recent years have seen a decline in performance. Following a disappointing 2023 ODI World Cup, Bangladesh has won only three matches this year, losing the same number. The recent series against Afghanistan ended in a 2-1 defeat.
Apart from a two-match Test series win in Pakistan, the "new Bangladesh" has faced continuous setbacks. After being whitewashed in two formats in India, the trend continued against a relatively inexperienced South African team at home. Hopes of a turnaround with the ODI series against Afghanistan were dashed, leaving fans disheartened.
