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

Bangladesh Celebrates 25 Years of Test Status with Honours Board Unveiling

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) commemorated the silver jubilee of achieving Test status with the inauguration of an Honours Board at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. A special program was organized by the board on June 26, 2000, marking this significant milestone.

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

Bangladesh played its first Test match against India on November 10, 2000, marking their entry into the world of Test cricket.

Alongside the Honours Board, a commemorative cabinet was also unveiled. It showcases the various trophies won by Bangladeshi players throughout their cricketing journey.

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 like Nayeem Hasan and Nahid Rana are also recognized on the board.

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

The reunion was a key event in a week-long celebration marking the 25th anniversary of the country's Test status.

Various events are being held nationwide to commemorate this achievement. These include an Under-12 six-a-side tournament in divisional cities, as well as a pacer and spinner talent search.

The BCB hosted a special reunion to honor 25 years since gaining Test status, aiming to bring together the individuals who laid the foundation for Bangladesh's red-ball 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 involved in that 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 unexpected call-up to the team: "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."