Welcome Sri Lanka
The first match of the current Test series between hosts Bangladesh and the touring Sri Lanka began on Monday in Dhaka in high tensions of no more Test series between these two countries if the so-called reform proposal submitted by Australia, England and India about the two categories of Test status is accepted by the majority members of the ICC. But we welcome the series because cricket has given us world wide identity.
The proposal aims at creating cricket colonialism. It runs counter to the globalisation of this discipline of sports. The role of Indian cricket board surprises us most. Instead of fighting for the weaker nations, BCCI has joined hands with Australia and England to make cricket their kitchen sport.
We do not know the ultimate aim of the three dominating cricket playing nations. They should learn from other sports like soccer, volleyball, badminton, table tennis and hockey. If the World Badminton Federation had divided badminton into two categories, the rise of world class Saina Nehwal and P. Sindhu from India would have never been possible. These two now pose threat to the Chinese juggernaut in the women division.
So, the Indian cricket board should note it carefully.
Cricket, once game of gentleman, art and architecture, faces extinction. What Australian tycoon Kerry Packer began in the late seventies, the three big wants to give the final touch. In the Packer’s formula, there were three teams-Australia, West Indies and the Rest of the World who played in his World Series Cricket.
Khurshida Haque
Parbatipur
