As with any saleable commodity, a group of ex-cricketers, business magnates, telecommunication giants, marketing dons and some none-the-wise suckers emerged to make cricket an occupation. Without even ICC boss Dalmiya's globalisation scheme put into actuality, there is so much cricket, that the market today is virtually flooded. Antagonists consider it a fortuitous boon that the game is till now not possible indoors.
There is so much at stake and so less time (reminds you of 'time is money') that not even a sixty-day deluge was convincing enough to deter the financially interested. Bangabandhu Stadium, no less, was in October the venue of the world cricket haat.
The tournament was for several reasons good for us. That Dhaka is a city which has a stadium fit for the giants of the game is now common knowledge in the world's cricketing circle, however restricted may be it's radius. That we can fill our stadium and make three Mexican waves every half-hour, whatever the state of the game. That we can jump and shout for any Tom, Dick and Harry; no matter whose wickets have been rattled, or who has battered a bowler, or who has bruised his knee to save a single for another country. Yes! Let it be known that Banglaees love their cricket.
That our very capable Board can work on such a very wide canvas. That we can play extremely good hosts. This is being discussed in every living room from Cambridge to Cape Town, in every kitchen from Manchester to Matamoros; frankly, I don't know where that is. Such has been our accommodating role in the nine-nation Wills International Cup that it reminds me of the travelling circus that moves from one town to another. The lions roar, the elephants stand on a rubber ball, the clowns put on big noses; and the townspeople pay to cheer them on. Even our own goat was not allowed on to the ring. Come the morning after, the circus moved out of town.
Like any business arrangement, the books have to be seen when the dust has settled. Correct me if I am wrong, the figures look something like this. From the Wills at Dhaka, we were so willing that ICC has funnelled out something between seventy-five to a hundred crore Taka. BCB has gained about six to seven crore from the money you and I paid at the gates. NSC has invested about fifteen crore in installations at and development of the Bangabandhu. And there was not even a whimper from Adhunik or other anti-smoking campaigners.
The Bangladesh cricketers were not considered qualified to play even one match, although five Test-playing teams left after playing only one match. So, where was the ignominy? We were told that the Test greats have no time and an extra match involving hosts Bangladesh was not on the card. The Zimbabweans and the English tanned in our sun for full four to five days before getting into the Wills action. In fact, we did play a very honourable match with the English at the BKSP. Could not that game have been included in the 'untouchable' Wills?
Did we have a bad deal? To a great extent, yes. Some say, otherwise ICC and its business interests would go elsewhere. Fair enough. But when the circus did arrive in town, could we not at least impress upon the Council for greater Bangladeshi participation?
Our cricketers were ignored, our umpires were humiliated, our journalists were restricted, and our organisers were made to stoop. ICC, so we were told, even dictated the manner in which the hospitality boxes were to be bought and sold.
Arrangements were not made for the national cricketers, past and present, to watch the circus and learn a few tricks. Need we remind the BCB that they exist for the cricketers?
Local umpires, because of lack of international experience so I assume, were awarded the distinction of carrying white balls to and from the umpires. They were appropriately dressed to match the balls when they are new and used, white and black. Would it have cost the BCB a fortune to provide them with what Shepherd and Bucknor were wearing? Would it have been that serious a risk to allow our umpires to officiate at least in one match? If it sound like I am pleading, it is because I am. BCB should know more than I that even Dickie Bird had his first game. If we do not have faith in our umpires at this stage, how on earth is the BCB even dreaming of Test status, how the heck shall they live up with their one-day status?
The ICC has not done anything illegal and neither has the BCB in terms of the finances involved, because a deal was signed. As it was the first time, we can look upon BCB's faux pas with understanding and sympathy. We are all learning. We are all trying to help.
Perhaps understandable to some extent that we had to do everything to bring the circus to town. To prove a point, our love for cricket. That our crowd is the best and the most learned in the world. But, the next time, BCB should make all contracts with ICC and others taking into consideration local interests, players, umpires and organisers. The next time BCB should make Bangladesh appear as a sovereign nation. Because we are.