Remembering the Tigers Test debut day
Bangladesh to observe Test cricket debut today
Sports Reporter
Bangladesh is going to observe the 15th-year to mark their Test cricket debut today.
Just around five months after achieving Test status as the 10th-member country in June 26, 2000, Bangladesh played their debut Test match against India at Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) on November 10 at the same year.
Given the period of time, the youngest member of Test-playing nation played so far 93 Tests under the 46 home and away bi-lateral Test series.
After being set their footstep in Test cricket, they played the highest number of 16 Test matches against their Asian rival Sri Lanka. Bangladesh played 14 Tests against Zimbabwe, 12 against the West Indies, 11 against New Zealand, while 10 each against Pakistan and South Africa. Tigers also played eight each against England and India alongside four against Australia.
Amongst the matches, they won only seven matches including five against Zimbabwe and two against West Indies so far. They drew a total of 15 matches, where they made three each against Zimbabwe and New Zealand, two each against South Africa, Sri Lanka, India and West Indies, while one against Pakistan.
On the basis of the series, they drew the series fourth times in their cricket history that came from against Zimbabwe, West Indies, India and South Africa, out of 46 bi-lateral series. Of course, Tigers played Asian Test Championships in 2001-02 with the involvement of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
In terms of one day cricket, Bangladesh made a significant development in cricket. But we could not acquire the development in Test. Except Zimbabwe, we could not get opportunity to play Test matches more than two matches against top-ranked teams.
Naimur Rahman Durjoy, chairman of BCB Cricket Operation, admitted the matter and said that the way they develop in one day cricket they are yet to acquire development in Test because of the lacking in core areas.
In sooth, we made a substantial development in one day cricket. But we could not achieve in Test because we could not build the required infrastructure for it. We couldnt develop the countrys first class cricket, said Durjoy, who led Bangladesh in debut Test against India.
We told every time to build sporting and bouncy wicket at every international venues on the stroke of our first class cricket. We have proposed every time but we couldnt do it. We needed more times to implement it, countrys first Test captain also said.
Under the current Future Tour Programme (FTP), Bangladesh will play a total number of 68 Test matches in the next eight years. Of them, the bulk of the matches will be held at home yard.
We needed to play more Test matches to improve in Test. But we couldnt get the chance to play more than two matches against giant teams. Were getting less number of Test matches under FTP. But weve proposed in ICC meeting to increase number of matches for us, said Naimur Rahman.
