The fools shall hope again (21 March 1999)

21 March 1999

The fools shall hope again

Dr Nizamuddin Ahmed

Yet another disappointing day for Bangladesh cricket. It's not so much as losing to Kenya, as the manner of surrendering a match right from the planning stage. They say cricket is a thinking game but yesterday the home team played without any gray matter in the skull.

This correspondent is beginning to feel like despondent and frustrated parents, who have given their child a good home, the best diet, the right environment, the state-of-the-art tutoring and what not. But, somehow the child could not come within the top ten positions in his class. After 27th ODIs, it is now gradually sinking in that the child does not have the potential to do any better.

We were beaten in all three aspects of the game, so commented a Bangalee television commentator as a matter of conclusion last night. We also performed miserably in other areas, TV commentary also being one of them. Some of our full-grown commentators keep on repeating every action that one can see on the screen. There is enough international cricket coverage on television for them to learn, and about time now, that there is no need to say things such as a bowler is going up to his mark, that he has turned around, that the bastman has played a shot or driven a ball, that the wicketkeeper... the viewer is watching. When will these experienced commentators ever learn that they should not narrate matters that we can see? They should do a lot of homework to inform us on matters that are not apparent on the screen. They should also listen and watch very carefully the coverage of ESPN and Star Sports.

Yesterday's big defeat was hard to take because the nation had been pinning so much on it. Ever since the ICC triumph, we have been desperately trying to prove that it was no accident. Our only win against Kenya in India last year is also beginning to look like another accident.

The skipper was guilty of playing to the gallery by bringing in lesser reputed batsmen before Akram Khan, one of the few proven roots in the team. And the manner in which the whole order, save Shahriar Hossain, was shivering on home ground against the not-above mediocre bowling of the Kenyans, was a Shakespearean tragedy re-written. There was total lack of commitment. The whole team needs to be seen by a psyciatrist.

One or two of the bastmen tried to play for a place in the 15-man World Cup squad. They did not play for the team. They were not playing a one-day match. They forgot to look at the clock and the balls. No pun intended.

Some are of the opinion that pre-match press pampering of players have turned their heads; the wrong way. Some vernacular reports gave coverage of some of our national cricketers that they would do this to Kenya and that to Kenya. Thank God! The Kenyans cannot read Bangla.

The day-night matches have also come under criticism. This tournament is part of Bangladesh's preparation for the World Cup. But, Bangladesh will play all their World Cup matches in daylight. Is there wisdom in this decision?

But then, is there any wisdom in having any hopes for Bangladesh cricket? Like many other fools all over the country, I will be again watching the proceedings against Zimbabwe today. We shall all be looking forward to an accident.

Source :: The Bangladesh Daily Star (https://www.dailystarnews.com)