Many works left to turn Coxs Bazar Cricket Stadium an intl venue
Sujon, Akram, Nannu urge NSC to complete unfinished work
Abu Talha Sarker, from Cox’s Bazar
Former cricketers urge the government and its concerned ministries to come forward and implement their development projects what they have chalked out surrounding the largest sea beach and stadiums in Coxs Bazar.
The environment and facilities Coxs Bazar has if the government could properly utilize as they said the countrys cricket would be benefited besides its tourism sector alongside local marine business.
While we were coming here in Coxs Bazar, we all were talking about its world largest sea beach and other things surrounding the areas.
Along with that, it has huge potential in terms of business and economic aspect. We toured so many countries and saw many things in beach centric, said Khaled Mahmud, who captained the Raw Nation Dhaka Metro Masters in the Masters Cricket Carnival-2017 sponsored by Walton.
Here only stadium has been built. May be other things could be developed. Hopefully the government will see the matter deeply. It is possible to build a golf course. It would be better if it is built in sports centric. Many more games will be possibly hosted, the foreigners will then be agreed to come here, Sujon told The Independent after their opening match at the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
I think the government has such plan. But it is a big thing when it will be implemented. It would be better as much as possible it would be executed. We have good place what many countries are yet to know. It would be presented throughout the sports, and thats great thing for us, he added.
The current facilities what are in Coxs Bazar for the cricket that are not enough to host any bilateral series or any international tournament though it has already hosted some matches of the 2011 ICC Womens World Cup, ICC U-19 World Cup-2016 and ACC Emerging Asia Cup in 2017.
Of course, the National Sports Council (NSC), the responsible body of the grounds, did some works to host the above mention tournaments but the stadium is yet to host any international match for the Tigers.
Former captain Khaled Mahmud Sujon among them believes that Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium could be the best venue of the country by implementing the required planning.
International match or tournament will be hosted by the stadium today or tomorrow. But many more things are required to hold such big tournament. If those are fulfilled, it will then be possible. Before that we need to develop the stadium, Khaled Mahmud, who is also a director in the board, said.
Both the grounds are very good. But more works are needed to work. We have so many works left here. If we could do these things it is then possible to be held the international matches, he also said.
Here is a matter of planning of National Sports Council (NSC). So far as I know, the NSC has planning. But I think it is now needed to implement. It may be a fantastic venue for Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), he added.
Foreigners seek to play in such beautiful place, where the sea beach will be remained beside the stadium. Through cricket, we could represent Bangladesh to the foreign countries. After building the structure, Coxs Bazar might be one of the best venues of the country, the board director thought.
With Sujon, Akram Khan and Minhajul Abedin Nannu, who hailed from Chittagong to play for Ispahani Chittagong Masters, echoed the same sentiment, stating that they also seek the development of the stadium and this area. If it develops then the local cricket coupled with the countrys cricket will also be developed.
It is learnt from the local officials that it is not possible to host any big tournament like bilateral series or international series until the stadium is built newly.
The sightscreen and scoreboard shattered in the wake of the strong gusty wind in the sea beach area. Even the stadium and its surrounding areas inundated owing to the scanty to moderate downpours.
For this, the stadium and its surrounding roads have to elevate 2.5 to 3 feet. The high boundary will be erected surrounding the stadium so that the gusty wind could not perforate in the ground.
Along with these, the drainage system with modern facility will be made. The galleries will also be built in the west, south and north sides. Now the boundary is in only eastern side is built with some facilities that are not enough to host the higher-level games and tournament.
