Cricket has one underlining quality in my eyes – the fact that it can spring up surprises. Bangladesh have surprised the cricketing ‘heavyweights’ in the past as Australia and Pakistan have succumbed to the ‘Tigers’. As much potential as Bangladesh have, their test record has been very disappointing as far as wins are concerned.
The 2-0 test series win over Zimbabwe is always good for confidence – but with all due respect the Zimbabwean’s are a far cry of the team that had the Flower brothers. In any sport the same does apply, ‘you can only beat what’s in front of you’. Bangladesh have done just that to their credit.
‘Minnows’ such as Holland, Afghanistan, Scotland and Ireland are looking to get into the test arena. Heavy defeats by the so called ‘heavy weights’ haven’t helped in the one day arena, so reluctance by the International Cricket Council or the I.C.C as they are also known as, is understandable.
Such a predicament reminds of football and that of San Marino, the part timers are constantly on the end of an absolute ‘hiding’ from opposition – but footballs governing body persists with keeping San Marino as a football nation, despite the outcries from many that feel San Marino should partake in qualifiers before the world cup qualifiers.
I am a big believer in time – and that certain things just take time. Countries such as Holland and all the other so called minnows as mentioned, need time- time to grow and develop, if that’s the right way to put it.
Countries such as England and Australia for example have got an array of facilities, something which sides like Afghanistan and Bangladesh might not be. Bangladesh and Afghanistan have shown on the worlds biggest stage that they are capable of beating the big sides, or in Afghanistan’s case at least competing with them.
Cricket needs to open it’s doors to the other nations that aren’t already in the top 10, cricket has done in the T20 and One day arena- but if cricket is going to expand the smaller nations need to be involved in that expansion and that involves all forms of cricket.
Afghanistan and Bangladesh do have some talented players, Shakib Al-Hassan joining an elite club of all-rounders to score a hundred and get 10 wickets in same match. The others players were Ian Botham and Imran Khan.
Asghar Stanikzai for Afghanistan had a good world cup, he really impressed me, Mohammed Shazhad a powerful wicket-keeper batsmen also had a good tournament. Cricket has been a bit slow to react to expansion- but now the cricket authorities are reacting, the ‘smaller cricket’ nations will need time to develop.
‘Patience is a virtue’ they say , crickets authorities need just that- patience because I am sure we will see some great talent bless the test circuit and cricket will be a lot better for it.
The Bearded Captain 