Indifference or Ignorance

[Zobair]

Indifference or ignorance?
Rabeed Imam from St Lucia

It's a little difficult at times to actually take in the amount of ignorance shown by people of other countries towards Bangladesh cricket.
Well, it's easier to forgive if someone comes over and inquires whether Bangladesh is a part of India or if women wear veils and actually have the freedom to work there because he or she has heard that it's a country similar to Afghanistan under the deposed Taliban regime.

But when perfectly cricket-literate journos and officials wonder if this has been one of the better days for Bangladesh in Test cricket after the team crosses 250 or has the nerve to ask the coach if he is concerned about the match finishing in three or four days given the Tigers' 'history' after they had ended day two on 406 for nine, you have a hard time keeping composure.

"The Bangladesh team now have a high standard that they accept and they play to it. Getting beaten in three days and bowling to the opposition hoping for a declaration, I think those days are gone and hopefully it will never come back to Bangladesh cricket. It's not to say that won't happen but it's a different attitude. It's a new way of approaching cricket that we have accepted and people can see it," Whatmore told a local newsman.

But the argument did not end there.


In a popular cricket programme televised from Barbados, the host and his guest on Sunday, the former West Indies opener Philo Wallace, went to great length debating the bowling actions of Mushfiqur Rahman and Tareq Aziz Khan. Some aggrieved caller had wanted to know if the "fellow who got Lara out had a suspect action?" While Mushfique passed the test, poor Tareq was branded a 'suspect' by whom else but Wallace!


In many ways the present West Indies team is walking the same path as Bangladesh -- trying to be competitive although the pride won't allow them to admit it. Getting out for less than 100 seven times in Tests over the last five years or getting massacred under 50 is not something Bangladesh have experienced in their four years of Test cricket.

Bangladesh were seen as a chance to roll over but on the field it's proving a different ball game. Wins for the West Indies in the one-day series came more due to luck than ability and the Tigers exposed the inadequacy of the pace quartet on tracks conducive to batting.

It's their glittering history and the genius of Lara that still make the Windies sparkle every once in a while. But there is unmistakable talent, raw talent coming through. However, they have some distance to go before the West Indies can be called a team. Bangladesh is nearly there.

Daily StarSource:

[Edited on 31-5-2004 by pompous]