"Winning in World Cup cricket unites a nation"

A World Cup cricket victory is more than a sports achievement. It can unite a country and build a positive national identity, writes Atikul Islam, 24, a Correspondent from Bogra in Bangladesh.

Cricket is one of the most popular games in our country and in the world. The World Cup is a competition that allows the cricket-loving world to achieve a nation’s respect on a world stage.

Like movies and drama serials, the game is part of popular culture among children, youth, and adults. The nation that can win the World Cup in cricket is popular among the world’s people. They are the hero of the world. News of the cricket stars is regularly updated in the electronic, print and internet media because people have desire to know about the heroes.

Bangladesh’s cricket team is more international than its football team. The Bangladesh team has the world number one all rounder Shakib Al Hasan. Mahmudullah Riyad, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nasir Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Taijul Islam, Soumya Sarkar, and Tamim Iqbal are cricketers who are doing well. Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal have played in the Indian Premier league and County Cricket in London in the past.

In the recent World Cup, Bangladesh had a win over England that has ensured their chance of playing in the quarter finals. Mahmudullah Riyad did a century and Rubel Hossain took four wickets and two wickets in last three deliveries, side by side with Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Taskin Ahmed – and all the team members have played well. They have won the game, and this victory has an impact on the nation. The Awami League Leaded governing party, opposition party BNP, masses of ordinary people and students all have celebrated the victory through rallies and well wishes. We see that the game has an impact to make the nation happy, forgetting the political turmoil for a moment. The game has made the nation united on single issue – that Bangladesh has achieved a great victory.

People usually support the best team or the winning team, and the team that played well can be supported from different parts of the world. In Bangladesh, I observe, many people followed Bangladesh as their national team, but some also support the Indian team, Pakistan, England or Australia because they play well. Most of the people of Bangladesh are anti-Pakistani because of the lingering effects of the era of  the war in independence in 1971. But I saw some are supporting the Pakistan team because of its good playing.

Being a cricket fan and being a national fan are different. But there is a subconscious inclination to support the nation. In the present era of neo-colonialism and culture development, the game has been a new way to take leadership over other countries. Those who are supporters of a cricket team will usually follow the country as superior.

Cricketers represent their country to the world through the World Cup. A country is well known to the rest of the cricket-loving world through good playing. Cricketers are also strictly followed, especially when they are on the cricket ground, so how well they present themselves in fitness, attitude and tact in playing represents the nation’s identity.

The best playing of a team can make the nation’s people united and patriotic to their country. Unity and patriotism is essential for the development of a country. If countrymen cannot feel themselves superior they cannot be superior. They may have love for other countries if they see them as the best.  If a nation is not united for the common good of the people and instead are involved in clashes and political instability, they cannot be developed. Clashes, violence, and political instability have negative impact on social peace and development. In such circumstances, games such as cricket can play an important role to unite the nation.

Identity is important in the present era. Cricketers can reflect a better identity of the nation to the rest of the world through good playing.  A nation is subconsciously understood by the millions of cricket-lovers through seeing its playing. To me, the present cricket team of Bangladesh is stronger than in the past. The batsman and bowlers are quite skilled. Almost all of the team members are playing well. So we can hope they can win, and if they cannot win that they will not play so badly. They can and are representing the nation well to the world. We, the Bangladeshi people, are happy for them. They are enriching our nation through good cricket.

photo credit: India v Bangladesh CWC15 QF via photopin (license)
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About me: I am a youth researcher and writer on different social, political and economic development issues. My aim is to serve my nation and abroad through research work, and to continue my research as a university or college lecturer.

I am founder of an online think-tank named Center for Strategic Analysis, where I work as a researcher and editor. Our vision is to lead the knowledge society through strategic analysis.

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Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Commonwealth Youth Programme. Articles are published in a spirit of dialogue, respect and understanding. If you disagree, why not submit a response?

To learn more about becoming a Commonwealth Correspondent please visit: http://www.yourcommonwealth.org/submit-articles/commonwealthcorrespondents/

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