To celebrate 25 years since Bangladesh received Test status, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is organizing a range of programs across the country. On June 26, 2000, Bangladesh was granted full membership by the International Cricket Council (ICC). In honor of this milestone, BCB’s celebrations began last Saturday and are continuing nationwide.
The celebrations include Under-12 six-a-side tournaments, pacer and spinner hunts, commentary booths, interactive sessions with parents, and a “Good Luck Wish Board” — all part of a broader goal: to awaken the sleeping cricket culture in many parts of the country. BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul expressed this intent during the silver jubilee event for the Dhaka division held yesterday at Riya Gop Women’s Complex in Dhanmondi, Dhaka.
Over the past few days, silver jubilee celebrations have also taken place in Khulna, Rajshahi, Chattogram, and Sylhet. As part of this series, Dhaka hosted its event yesterday. Speaking to the media there, the BCB president explained the purpose behind these nationwide celebrations. Bulbul said:
“I had been away from Bangladesh cricket. I had hoped that there would be 25 programs over these 25 years — one each year. But here we are, in the 25th year, organizing the first one. We’re doing this for two reasons: one, to celebrate 25 years of Test cricket; and two, to revive cricket in the many parts of the country where it has fallen dormant. And we’ve done — or are trying to do — this quite successfully.”
