The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) marked 25 years since the country entered Test cricket with a tribute to former players and a roadmap for expanding regional cricket infrastructure.
At a ceremony held in Dhaka on June 26, the BCB honored players and team management from the nation’s first-ever Test match in 2000. Most of the original squad attended, except for four of the eleven players who started in that historic game.
The event drew several former national players, including Shahriar Hossain, Mehrab Hossain, Habibul Bashar, Mohammad Rafique, Hasibul Hossain, Enamul Haque Moni, Javed Omar, and Fahim Muntasir. Also attending were coach Sarwar Imran and team manager Aziz Al Kaiser Tito. Former captain Naimur Rahman Durjoy, Akram Khan, Al Shahriar Rokon, Khaled Mashud Pilot, and Manjurul Islam also took part.
Players received commemorative blazers from the board. Many shared stories from the early days of Bangladesh’s Test journey, reflecting on both struggles and milestones.
Noticeably absent were the organizers who played key roles in helping Bangladesh secure Test status. The BCB did not extend invitations to any of them, a decision that drew quiet criticism but wasn’t addressed during the event.
As part of the celebration, former Test captain and current BCB development head Aminul Islam Bulbul outlined a long-term plan to decentralize cricket development across the country.
“We’ve identified four regions — Rajshahi, Chattogram, Greater Dhaka, and Sylhet,” Bulbul said.
“Each will have a local board with a head of cricket who will oversee all coaches in the region. We’re planning a regional Premier League and launching a coach development program. There will also be a funding model so they don’t have to rely on Mirpur for everything.”
The plan is aimed at building a self-sufficient grassroots system and nurturing talent outside the capital.
Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan attended the event as chief guest.
The celebration was part of a wider seven-part series organized by the BCB to recognize the country’s journey in Test cricket since gaining full status in 2000.
