The abandoned international stadiums of Bangladesh: Will BCB pour mercy upon them?
While the construction of a new stadium is undoubtedly a positive development, especially with an eye toward hosting major ICC tournaments in the future, modern facilities are a must. The initiative to build the stadium is commendable, but over the past 15 years, international cricket in Bangladesh has remained largely confined to Mirpur and Chattogram.
After the ousting of a 15-year authoritarian government, a wind of change is sweeping through the sports sector as well. Significant changes have already occurred within the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). Faruque Ahmed has taken over as the new president, and several directors have resigned, paving the way for many fresh faces. The new president has already promised to overhaul cricket in the country, hinting at positive changes across various sectors of the sport. However, amidst all these assurances of change, one cannot help but wonder whether the fate of the long-neglected international cricket stadiums will truly improve.
During the previous government's tenure, an initiative was undertaken to build a new cricket stadium in Purbachal. This stadium was to be named after the recently resigned former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and was designed to resemble the shape of a boat. Following the appointment of the new BCB president, the tender for this stadium has been cancelled, and it has been confirmed that both its name and design will undergo changes.
While the construction of a new stadium is undoubtedly a positive development, especially with an eye toward hosting major ICC tournaments in the future, modern facilities are a must. The initiative to build the stadium is commendable, but over the past 15 years, international cricket in Bangladesh has remained largely confined to Mirpur and Chattogram. Although matches have recently been held at the Sylhet International Stadium, the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna has seen very few matches. The Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogura and Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Narayanganj have been utterly neglected by the BCB.
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The reason for the absence of matches at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium is less about cricketing or infrastructural concerns and more about political reasons. The stadium was built during the BNP government's tenure. After hosting matches during the 2004 Under-19 World Cup, it was granted international stadium status in 2006. However, following one Test match and five One Day Internationals (ODIs), international cricket came to a halt at this venue. Since then, it has only hosted domestic cricket matches.
It is not as if Bogura has issues with accessibility, accommodation, or infrastructure. The city is only 185 kilometres from Dhaka, with modern hotels such as Momo Inn and Hotel Naz Garden available for international cricketers. Bogura is also well connected to the greater Rajshahi-Rangpur region. Yet, the people of this region have been deprived of the chance to watch international cricket for years. Surely, the newly restructured BCB must now turn its attention to this stadium.
Another stadium that has been left in neglect is the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah. While Bogura is at least outside of Dhaka, Fatullah is practically within arm's reach. However, no test matches have been played there since the 2015 match between Bangladesh and India. The 5,000-capacity stadium began its journey in 2006 with an ODI between Bangladesh and Kenya. Due to waterlogging, all types of matches have been suspended for the past nine years. The last international match held in Fatullah was in 2016. It has hosted two Test matches and ten ODIs.
Upon entering the stadium through the gate on the Link Road, one is immediately met with piles of garbage. The canal between the Link Road and the stadium has turned into a dumping ground. There is no cricket pitch, the ground is uneven, the electronic scoreboard is broken, and the drainage system is dysfunctional. The floodlights, press box, VIP gallery, and spectator stands are in a deplorable state. The chairs are broken and scattered about. The outdoor practice area is in even worse condition, with rainwater and chemically contaminated water from the DND Canal turning the place into a swamp. During the previous government's tenure, a project was initiated to renovate the stadium, with a budget allocation of Tk 250 crores to restore it to international standards. It remains to be seen how quickly the concerned authority can complete this project and restore the stadium to its former glory.
The next stadium in the list to be discussed has never truly hosted international matches, although it has hosted age-group international cricket. The A.H.M. Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi was constructed in 2004 and has a capacity of 15,000. It hosted three group stage matches during the 2004 Under-19 Cricket World Cup and four matches during the 2010 South Asian Games. However, no plans to upgrade it to a full-fledged international stadium have materialised.
Rajshahi is one of Bangladesh's major divisional cities, and the stadium is located in its heart. Like Bogura, Rajshahi has no issues with connectivity, and in fact, its transport links are among the best in the country. It also boasts international standard accommodations. If the BCB wanted to, they could certainly take steps to upgrade the Kamruzzaman Stadium to international standards. Rajshahi is also one of the driest regions in Bangladesh, which means matches held there during the monsoon season are less likely to be abandoned due to rain.
The Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium (SANS) in Khulna is another tale of mismanagement. This is the venue where Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes set a record partnership, and where Shakib Al Hasan achieved the rare feat of scoring a century and taking 10 wickets in a Test match. This is also where Bangladesh handed out the West Indies one of their heaviest ever defeats in their ODI history. Despite being considered one of the best Test venues in Bangladesh, no international matches have been held at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium since 2016. The stadium now looks like it is on life support, waiting for its final breath.
Having witnessed some of the most historic moments in Bangladesh cricket, the life of SANS as an international venue has been cut tragically short, hosting only 12 men's international matches and one women's international match between 2006 and 2016. Located in the Mujgunni area next to the Khulna-Jessore Highway, SANS was built on 13.80 acres of land at a cost of Tk 15 crores, as one of five cricket stadiums constructed across the country to host the 2004 ICC Men's Under-19 World Cup. Gaining ODI hosting status in 2006, the stadium's capacity was expanded from 15,000 to 20,000 in 2012 before it was approved as a Test venue. Yet, cricket fans in Khulna can scarcely remember the last time an international match was held there, nor do they hold much hope of seeing one in the near future.
If the BCB genuinely intends to improve cricket in Bangladesh, it must prioritise the revival of the existing venues. Day after day, these once-proud international stadiums remain abandoned, as if no one is responsible for them. Rather than focusing solely on building new stadiums, it is imperative to restore those that are in disrepair. To truly spread international cricket across the country, matches must return to these stadiums. High-quality stadiums are also crucial for developing good cricketers in different regions. The BCB's priorities are clear, but whether they act on them remains to be seen.
