Story ProgressBack to home
Has BCCI been unfair to B'desh cricket?
Eight years since Bangladesh became a Test playing nation, they haven't been invited to play in India even once.
- Suprita Das
- Updated: June 16, 2008 05:14 PM IST
Read Time:2 min
Dhaka:
Cricket's popularity in Bangladesh is no less than in India, Pakistan or in Sri Lanka. Sachin and Sourav, and now MS Dhoni are as dear to Bangladesh as they are to India. Not just that, many times in the past, in moments of controversies, the Bangladesh Cricket Board has always been on India's side. However, Bangladesh doesn't think that as neighbours, India has done a very good job. Eight years since Bangladesh became a Test playing nation, they haven't been invited to play in India even once.
"Maybe India is too busy. When the next FTP is made, Bangladesh will definitely get an opportunity to go to India and play," Gazi Ashraf Hussain, Chairman of Bangladesh Cricket Committee said.
Since their Test debut in 2000, Bangladesh has played in Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa and West Indies, not just Tests but ODIs as well. But experts say that big brother India is bothered only about the big bucks, and not the overall development of the game in the subcontinent
"This is the second time that Bangladesh couldn't tour India, the BCCI's attitude towards B'desh is negative. They've come here this time in order to compensate for when Bangladesh couldn't go, because it's not economically viable", Hasan Masood, BBC Radio Correspondent added.
So while the BCCI continues its money making run, it's Bangladesh cricket that's at the receiving end. Clearly its money that's doing all the talking, but Bangladesh is hoping things change
"Well, we're waiting for an invitation. I guess its all according to the schedules, and India has one of the busiest schedules", Jamie Siddons, Bangladesh coach said.
Television rights of countries are often valued by the number of times India is visiting it. The ongoing tri-series in Dhaka was initially supposed to be held in May, but was postponed because of the IPL. That just goes on to show once again just how powerful India is in world cricket.
For years now world cricket has been engaging in the debate over whether or not Zimbabwe and Bangladesh deserve Test status. Bangladesh who've had that privilege since November 2000, has not managed to move up the Test ladder at all. And that's primarily the reason why they are treated like poor cousins in the sub-continent. But India have been particularly unkind, never inviting the Tigers to tour even once. Cricket's popularity in Bangladesh is no less than in India, Pakistan or in Sri Lanka. Sachin and Sourav, and now MS Dhoni are as dear to Bangladesh as they are to India. Not just that, many times in the past, in moments of controversies, the Bangladesh Cricket Board has always been on India's side. However, Bangladesh doesn't think that as neighbours, India has done a very good job. Eight years since Bangladesh became a Test playing nation, they haven't been invited to play in India even once.
"Maybe India is too busy. When the next FTP is made, Bangladesh will definitely get an opportunity to go to India and play," Gazi Ashraf Hussain, Chairman of Bangladesh Cricket Committee said.
Since their Test debut in 2000, Bangladesh has played in Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa and West Indies, not just Tests but ODIs as well. But experts say that big brother India is bothered only about the big bucks, and not the overall development of the game in the subcontinent
"This is the second time that Bangladesh couldn't tour India, the BCCI's attitude towards B'desh is negative. They've come here this time in order to compensate for when Bangladesh couldn't go, because it's not economically viable", Hasan Masood, BBC Radio Correspondent added.
So while the BCCI continues its money making run, it's Bangladesh cricket that's at the receiving end. Clearly its money that's doing all the talking, but Bangladesh is hoping things change
"Well, we're waiting for an invitation. I guess its all according to the schedules, and India has one of the busiest schedules", Jamie Siddons, Bangladesh coach said.
Television rights of countries are often valued by the number of times India is visiting it. The ongoing tri-series in Dhaka was initially supposed to be held in May, but was postponed because of the IPL. That just goes on to show once again just how powerful India is in world cricket.
Topics mentioned in this article
Cricket Sreesanth
Get the Latest IPL 2024 Updates, check out IPL 2024 schedules and IPL points table at NDTV Sports.Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for more sports updates. You can also download the NDTV Cricket app for Android or iOS.