Bangladesh Cricket Board Marks 25 Years of Test Status with Honours Board Unveiling

Bangladesh Celebrates 25 Years of Test Status with Honours Board Dedication

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) commemorated the silver jubilee of achieving Test status with a special program at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, highlighted by the unveiling of an Honours Board on June 26, 2000.

The Bangladesh national cricket team played its first Test match against India on November 10, 2000, marking a pivotal moment in the nation's cricketing history.

The Honours Board at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. © BCB

A commemorative cabinet was also established adjacent to the Honours Board, showcasing the trophies won by Bangladeshi cricketers.

The Test Honours Board at the "Home of Cricket" features the names of all Bangladesh Test cricketers, from Akram Khan and Habibul Bashar Suman to Mashrafe Mortaza, Tamim Iqbal, and Shakib Al Hasan. Current players such as Nayeem Hasan and Nahid Rana are also recognized.

Youth and Sports Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan inaugurated the Honours Board. The event served as a reunion for many players who participated in Bangladesh's inaugural Test against India in 2000. Unfortunately, five members of that squad – captain Naimur Rahman Durjoy, Akram Khan, Khaled Mashud Pilot, Manjurul Islam, and Al Shahriar Rokon – were unable to attend.

The reunion was part of a week-long celebration of the country's 25 years as a Test-playing nation.

Across Bangladesh, various events are underway to celebrate this significant milestone, including an Under-12 six-a-side tournament in divisional cities and a talent search for pacers and spinners.

The BCB hosted a reunion to honor the men who laid the foundation for Bangladesh's Test cricket journey. The ceremony, led by Aminul Islam Bulbul, the country's first Test centurion and current BCB president, also included members of the coaching staff from the historic game.

"The first reason is to celebrate 25 years of Test cricket while the other reason is to give a wake-up call as cricket seemed to have been in hibernation mode in many places of the country," said Bulbul.

Habibul Bashar recounted the excitement of his last-minute call-up. "I wasn't supposed to play. Aminul bhai called Shovon bhai to pass the message - we didn't have phones then. I was just happy to tell myself that I'm going to be a Test cricketer," he said.