Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP)

Faculty of Security & Strategic Studies

Department of International Relations
Term Paper
Topic: Cricket Diplomacy of Bangladesh with India
Course Title: Bangladesh in International Affairs
Code: IR 2313
Submitted to:
Bulbul Ahmed
Lecturer, Department of International Relations
Submitted by:
Name: Nafisa Nazin Lutfa
Batch: BIR-2017
Roll No: 17411048
Section: B
Submission Date: 17th March , 2018

1
Content Page
Abstract ----------------------------------------------------------2
Bangladesh Cricket History At a Glance-------------------------3
Cricket Nationalism In Bangladesh-------------------------------4
India Bangladesh Relation Based on Cricket--------------------5
Media level Reaction In Bangladesh India cricket match------5
Fan level Reaction In Bangladesh India cricket match--------7
Bangladesh Before Controversial Umpiring--------------------7
Successful Sports Diplomacy by BCB---------------------------8
Conclusion------------------------------------------------------------10
Bibliography--------------------------------------------------------------11

2
Abstract:
Once Bangladesh focused only in political issues, military and economic issues to cop
up with international politics. However international politics has changed
dramatically. Interaction with other states is not confined in high political areas.
Bangladesh has a great opportunity to extend its influence in a regional and
international level through cricket. Bangladesh is looking forward to broader its low
politics in order to heal the inter-sate conflicts which developed into a high politics.
The author of this paper will try to cover the popularity of Bangladesh cricket across
the globe. Cricket which was limited in local and regional level, but now it is a
weapon for Bangladesh to access political and social area worldwide. But some
controversial events with India made the journey of Bangladesh cricket team facing
friction. Through past ten years Bangladesh cricket’s rise became undeniable. The
paper will analyze the overall raising of cricket in Bangladesh and its relation with
India in case of cricket.

3
Bangladesh Cricket History At a Glance:
The courage of Bangladesh cricket team made it name the Tigers. Tigers represents
Bangladesh in cricket field for last 30 years and emerged as strong unit that contains
the capacity to defeat any cricket playing nation in the world. The main advancement
of Bangladesh cricket started after it became independent in 1971. Through
independence popularity of cricket started growing. As an associate member of
International Cricket Council (ICC) Bangladesh participated in many international
competitions. After a long time in 1977, six years after independence the country was
granted an Associate Membership by ICC.
Bangladesh participated in ICC Trophy in 1979 held in England. That tournament was
held to give non- Test playing cricket teams an opportunity to participate in year’s
world cup. Bangladesh made their journey short with two victory and two defeats.
In 1986 Asia Cup Bangladesh made it’s first participation against a full member of
ICC. Bangladesh debuted in international cricket for the first time. On 31 March 1986
Bangladesh vs Pakistan match is market as the first ODI match for Bangladesh.
In 1988 a large scale cricket tournament held in Bangladesh ,though Bangladesh could
not bag a win.
After losing 22 matches in a row Bangladesh claimed their first ODI victory. It took
12 years for seeing a victorious day. It was a match against Kenya.
Bangladesh managed to win ICC Trophy on 1997 after participating a long course of
time subsequent 1979, 1982, 1986, 1994 edition. After wining the tournament on
1997 Bangladesh was qualified for 1999 World Cup.
Then it comes when Bangladesh appeared in world cup tournament. The glory of
Bangladesh flourished when Pakistan was defeated by Bangladesh. The match was
incredible. The victorious moment introduced Bangladesh in a new way. No matter
how sparkling history of Bangladesh cricket team becomes, that joy will be always
the most glorifying one.
After World Cup, Test status was just a matter of time. On June 2000 Bangladesh
proudly managed the opportunity to be a full membership of ICC. Thus Bangladesh
became the 10th Test playing nation.
On 2000 13th November Bangladesh for the first time appeared in Test match.
Bangladesh however could not manage a win against India and lose the match by 9
wicket.

4
Bangladesh went to a long format inside the team. Bangladesh’s losing in Test streak
ended when Zimbabwe toured Bangladesh in 2005. Bangladesh clinched their victory
in both Test as well as the series by 1-0.
Bangladesh showed it’s first color in triangular series with Australia and England.
Bangladesh’s glorious win against Australia by 5 wickets earned them the Giant
Slayer Tag.
In October 2010, New Zealand visited Bangladesh for five one-day internationals.
The series victory is marked as the first series victory against a full strength cricket
nation.
On 2011 Bangladesh again came to light as a co-host of World Cup with India and Sri
Lanka. Though Bangladesh saw its victory against England, Ireland, Netherland but it
could not defeat West Indies.
On 2012 Bangladesh cricket team made the whole nation proud winning against India
and Sri Lanka. But the whole nation also cried due to losing the final match against
Pakistan.

Cricket Nationalism In Bangladesh:

One of the biggest stories of the cricketing word is the rise of the Bangladesh cricket
team in recent years. This team has evolved from being a pariah to a weak side whose
test-playing status was questioned by the most occasional giant killers to its present
status as a mostly worthy cricketing force. All through this potential rise of cricket in
Bangladesh, as elsewhere in the subcontinent, has been a significant role for
nationalism. Before 1971, cricket was scorned by East Bengalis because it was seen as
a game that lighter-skinned elites played only for their entertainment. As a cricket
hyper-nationalism, the game is often turn to war by other means. Beyond a game it
represents nationalism and pride. No one other than Mashrafe Mortaza, the
philosopher-captain-hero of the Bangladesh team narrated once that he is a cricketer
but can save a life. This is because a doctor can save life but no-one claps for the best
doctor in the country. Though They will save more lives and they are the stars. The
politicians are the stars, they build the country. What have cricketers built using
cricket? Paddy doesn’t grow well on the cricket field, but cricketers grow nationalism.
Every night when Bangladesh play against any games the whole country sit before the
television just like 1971. (Chatterjee, 2017)

5
India Bangladesh Relation Based on Cricket:
India and Bangladesh are neighboring countries, where Bangladesh is India locked.
This two countries have the same types of people, cultures, religions and lifestyles.
During 1971, India helped Bangladesh win their liberation war. India supported
Bangladesh directly during the war. These two country share a strong democratic
affinity between themselves.

Significantly many things are common in these two countries, it is understandable that
both countries play the same types of sports. As a members of ICC (International
Cricket Council) they mostly play cricket and are the most strong player. Most
importantly thing is Indian and Bangladeshi people are very fond of cricket. This
become so serious when people love cricket so much that they almost worship it. No
other nations actually cry when their teams win a match. It creates a huge nationalism.

But it is veritable that though these two countries play cricket, the Indian team is
stronger than the Bangladeshi team. While in Bangladesh the number of great players
is only a few, but there are a lot of great players in India. In the whole world India has
one of the largest and richest cricket board; they are capable of arranging various
tournaments every year, whereas Bangladesh is still fighting to set up a proper
academy by which new players will come out to take the responsibility of resenting
the national team. More than a hundred times, Bangladesh and India have faced each
other on the playground and most of the times India managed to win. The journey of
Indian cricket commenced a long way back, on the other hand Bangladesh is still a
young country to play cricket. When the Bangladesh team wins big against any team
other than India, the press of West Bengal becomes typically jubilant. On the other
hand when the Bangladesh team defeats India, the loyalties of West Bengalis
understandably remain unacknowledged and unpublished which is much wired. (Al
Hasan, 2015)

Media level Reaction In Bangladesh India cricket match:

So the problem arises when Bangladesh turned into a good cricket team. Though India
is so friendly with Bangladesh, the Indian media does not give much priority to the

6
Bangladesh cricket team as Bangladesh lags so far behind. Some Indian
media humiliate Bangladesh by showing statistics and comparing their players and
records. Diverted by the media, Indian fans follow along on social media.

Recently, Bangladesh started to show it’s best to beat and knocked England out of the
World Cup. It was a great day for Bangladeshis to celebrate. The whole country was
engaged in a festive mood and sang in praise for the. But some India supporting
channels, newspapers, commentators and even cricket analysts remained strictly
prohibited from admiring the Bangladesh Cricket team. Bangladesh was belittled in
some cases. They even criticized the celebrations. In the year 2007 this
impassivity started back World Cup when India got knocked out because of
Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi emotional cricket lovers launched a storm on Bangladeshi media and

social media as they can not take this slight easily. Bengali people became shocked
and outright resentful. As a neighboring and cricket-playing country, India also has a
lot of supporters from Bangladesh. In this sub-continent, it can be said that only India
has a larger number of cricket supporters than Bangladesh. The impact is significant.
Bangladeshi cricket lover have also joined this media war. They started to criticize
India and its team; they are showing hateful attitude for India on social media. This
will have a great effect in the long run of diplomacy. It could spoil the bilateral
relationship between these two countries entirely, because this type of bitter events
ultimately turn into a bigger shape in the end. Thus both countries should take that
into serious consideration before it turn into a disaster.

If it goes on, the stable environment of cricket will be lost eternity in this sub-
continent. Pakistan is already facing a problem due to consideration of the safety issue
as other countries don’t come to visit them. Now if India and Bangladesh start to hold
feelings of hostility, this would make other countries of the cricket playing countries
to have some negative feelings towards these countries. Indian and Bangladeshi
cricket supporters have a great image across the world for being the most emotional
and diehard fans for their respective teams. This image would be ruined for good If
their media and people fight each other for cricket. (Al Hasan, 2015)

7
Fan level Reaction In Bangladesh India cricket match:

Fans of the Bangladesh cricket team, expecting a series sweep, but suddenly humbled
on 2015. They praised and consoled the Bangladeshi players, but had not appreciated
for the Indian opponents. They decided to focus on the commendable performance of
the national players and declined to make India the object of attention for this series.
Before the final match, the atmosphere in the Bangladeshi community was somehow
different. Bangladeshi fans lauded the national team’s victory through using some
crude sexual terms, such as “baladkar kore de” (rape India). Asif Mohiuddin, who is a
Bangladeshi atheist blogger and human rights activist explains the situation.
According to him such remarks, which are unwittingly being used by women and
children too, venerate a culture where rape is normal; where sexual intimacy is a sign
of revenge, humiliation, and domination. This was really shameful. Photo-shopped
image of Taskin Ahmed holding severed head of MS Dhoni irked Indian fans in the
past and it became viral on social media.

On June 27,2015 a leading national newspaper of Bangladesh published a photo along

with an attractive titled “We Can Beat South Africa”, in which the confident captain
of the Bangladeshi cricket team was seen with an aggressive facial expression and his
middle finger propped up. This photo is being interpreted by a few citizens as a subtle
reference to the sexualized victory chants that are popular among local fans.

Again many times Sudhir Gautam, the most visible fan of Indian cricketer Sachin
Tendulkar, was allegedly attacked with jeers and stones by angry fans near the
stadium. (Islam, 2015)

Bangladesh Before Controversial Umpiring:

Bangladesh cricket team faced crucial umpiring on 2015. There were two umpiring
decisions that shocked Bangladesh’s cricket supporters all over. Which made the
Tigers ended up losing the game by 109 runs.
AHM Mustafa Kamal, president of International Cricket Council (ICC), mentioned
that Bangladesh will appeal against the most controversial umpiring decisions during
Bangladesh’s quarterfinal game against India in Melbourne.

8
Mr. Kamal, also presented his plan towards the minister of Bangladesh, that he will
resign as ICC chief for protesting the “controversial decisions” made by the umpires.

AHM Mustafa Kamal, president of International Cricket Council (ICC), said

Bangladesh will appeal against “controversial” umpiring decisions during
Bangladesh’s quarterfinal game against India in Melbourne today.

Earlier in the 34th over, when replays showed majority of the ball had pitched in line
with the stumps Mashrafe’s LBW shout was turned down by Ian Gould. Mashrafe
quickly called for a review but the third umpire ruled in favour of the batsman, Suresh
Raina who was batting on ten runs. Thus the whole match turned out. (Daily Star
2015)

Successful Sports Diplomacy by BCB:

On 2015, former skipper Shafiq Ul Haque Heera was invited in the last meeting of the
International Cricket Council (ICC) as crucial for the country and stating that they
became successful in their cricket diplomacy by addressing the challenge and erupting
situation.
According to him it was a difficult situation in country’s cricket arena after the
postponement of the men and women teams’ tour of Bangladesh by Australia
and South Africa respectively. It was within a the week-long gap. But Bangladesh
successfully accepted the challenge and managed the situation by their tactical and
timely cricket diplomacy.
After the situation of World Cup 2014, Bangladesh saw it’s worst day in cricket
diplomacy. It was a case when it was tried to shift the venue of the showcase event
from the country while political mayhem was going on in the country. It was a part of
international conspiracy.
Then Australia denied to attain Bangladesh for a test match. Then Bangladesh again
played a significant role through it’s diplomacy. BCB president Nazmul Hassan
Papon met the presidents of Cricket Australia (CA). BCB president provided the
assurance of high profile security for the foreign teams inside our territory. Australia
gave their positive vibes to tour in Bangladesh after getting the promise of high-

9
profile security. Australia narrated that they will talk with Bangladesh as soon as
possible to fix a suitable date for the significant tour.

Conclusion:
Sports is a good medium, by playing mediating and pivotal role in inter-state relations
in Asia. Through attaching sports as a scope of international relations it would be a
helpful to boost the size of diplomacy for Bangladesh. Cricket as a sport raises mutual
understanding and promotes peace between Bangladesh and India. Sport exchanges
culture, and furthermore worked as a trigger to overcome prejudice against each other
for a long term. As a result, sports exchange between India Bangladesh often have
used as a tool of public diplomacy, considering that the aim of public diplomacy is
also to see to foster mutual understanding.

10
Bibliography:

1.Islam, M. (2015). “Violent cricket nationalism in Bangladesh” |

YourCommonwealth. [online] Yourcommonwealth.org. Available at:
http://www.yourcommonwealth.org/social-development/sport-for-development-
peace/violent-cricket-nationalism-in-bangladesh/ [Accessed 15 Apr. 2018].

2.Chatterjee, G. (2017). Why cricket has been a potent vehicle for nationalism

in Bangladesh. [online] Scroll.in. Available at:
https://scroll.in/field/804696/why-cricket-has-been-a-potent-vehicle-for-
nationalism-in-bangladesh [Accessed 15 Apr. 2018].
 
3.Al Hasan, A. (2015). "India’s reaction to Bangladesh’s 2015 cricket victory" |
YourCommonwealth. [online] Yourcommonwealth.org. Available at:
http://www.yourcommonwealth.org/social-development/sport-for-development-
peace/indias-reaction-to-bangladeshs-2015-cricket-victory/ [Accessed 15 Apr.
2018].

4.The Daily Star. (2015). Bangladesh to appeal against ‘controversial’

umpiring: ICC chief. [online] Available at:
https://www.thedailystar.net/online/bangladesh-appeal-against-controversial
%E2%80%99-umpiring-icc-chief-72576 [Accessed 16 Apr. 2018].

5.Talha Sarkar, M. (2015). BCB�s cricket diplomacy pays dividend |

Independent. [online] Theindependentbd.com. Available at:
http://www.theindependentbd.com/home/printnews/19598 [Accessed 16 Apr.
2018].

11
12