Sabash Bangladesh: Cricket, Nationalism and Culture, 1971-2019

Kausik Bandyopadhyay
Professor of History, West Bengal State University, Barasat, Kolkata,
India

DOI: https://doi.org/… 16.1971/sbC&lwr2026v7

Keywords: Cricket, Nationalism, Cultural Identity, Sports History, Liberation War

Abstract

This essay explores the intricate relationship between cricket, nationalism, and culture in Bangladesh from 1971 to 2019. Emerging from the traumatic experience of the Liberation War, genocide, and political instability, Bangladesh has continuously sought a cohesive national identity amidst deep political, social, religious, and cultural divisions. In this context, cricket has evolved beyond a mere sport to become a powerful cultural force and an emblem of national unity. The game transcends class, religion, ethnicity, and ideological divides, creating a shared emotional and symbolic space where diverse groups coalesce under a unified national sentiment encapsulated in the slogan “Aamar Bangladesh, Sabash Bangladesh.” Despite limited success in major international tournaments, the consistent performance of the national cricket team has fostered national confidence, challenged earlier inferiority complexes, and cultivated a vibrant cricket culture embedded in everyday life. Cricket has thus functioned as a popular cultural unifier, an instrument of assertive cultural nationalism, and a transnational medium through which Bangladeshi identity is reimagined in the era of globalization. By situating sports history within broader socio-political narratives, this essay argues that cricket represents one of the most unchallenged expressions of nationhood in contemporary Bangladesh, particularly in a society still grappling with the complex legacies of war, trauma, and memory.

Notes and References

* This paper has drawn liberally and reproduces much from my two earlier books on the subject: Bangladesh Playing: Sport, Culture, Nation (Dhaka: Subarna, 2012) and Sabash Bangladesh! Kriket, Jatiyatabad, Sanskriti (Dhaka: Somoy Prokashon, 2017).

1. Abul Kalam, ‘National Self-Image, Policy and Leadership, in Abul Kalam, ed. Bangladesh in the New Millennium: A University of Dhaka Study, Dhaka: UPL, 2004, p. 103.

2. Rounaq Jahan, ‘Bangladesh: Promise and Performance’, in Rounaq Jahan, ed. Bangladesh: Promise and Performance, Dhaka: UPL, 2000, p. 6-7.

3. Lawrence Ziring, Bangladesh: From Mujib to Ershad, An Interpretive Study, Karachi: Oxford University Press, 1992, p. 218.

4. Sufia M. Uddin, Constructing Bangladesh, Chappel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2006, p. 8.

5. Peter van der Veer, Religious Nationalism: Hindus and Muslims in India, Berkeley: University of California Press, 1994, pp. 14-15, cited in ibid.

6. M. Anisuzzaman, ‘The Identity Question and Politics’, in Rounaq Jahan, Bangladesh, p. 63.

7. Willem van Schendel, ‘Bengalis, Bangladeshis and Others: Chakma Visions of a Pluralist Bangladesh’, in Jahan, Bangladesh, p. 71.

8. Rehman Sobhan, ‘Building a Responsible Civil Society: Challenges and Prospects’, in Jahan, Bangladesh, p. 367.

9. For an interesting personalized account of Bangladesh’s progress in cricket, see Yousuf Rezaur. Rahman, Sentimental Journey: It’s more than just a game, New York: Yousuf & Parveen, 2002. Another useful work in the same genre is: Omar Khaled Rumi, Orthat (That is), Dhaka: Omar Khaled Rumi, 1990.

10. Shamya Dasgupta, ‘Bangladesh Cricket: Scoring on Passion, but little Else …’, Sport in Society, vol. 10, no. 1 (January 2007), p. 166.

11. Jahangir Chowdhury’s comment, cited ibid.

12. Dilu Khandakar, ‘Flashback Kualalampur’, Ananda Alo, vol.1, no. 25 (1 April 2006), p. 10.

13. Rejanur Rahman, ‘Cricketer Ananda, Cricketer Alo’ (Joy of cricket, light of cricket), Ananda Alo, vol.1, no. 25 (1 April 2006), p. 5.

14. Akram Khan, ‘Cricket Jati Hoye Uthlam’ (We became a cricketing nation), Somokal, ICC World Cup special issue, 2011, p. 32; Author’s translation.

15. Dulal Mahmud, ‘Durer Biswacup, Kachher Biswacup’ (World Cup afar, World Cup nearer), Saptahik Bichitra, 30 April 1999, in Dulal Mahmud, Stadium Er Sei Addata Aaj Aar Nei (Adda at the stadium no longer exists), Dhaka: Akhhorbritta, 2005, pp. 26-7.

16. The Daily Janakantha, 1 June 1999, p. 1.

17. Ibid., p. 2; Author’s translation.

18. Partha Tanvir Naved, Bangalir Prothom Biswacup (Bengalis’ first World Cup), Dhaka; Prajapati Prokashon, 2000, p. 59; Author’s translation.

19. ‘The World Cup’s Greatest Moments’, p. 8.

20. Dulal Mahmud, ‘Cricket Safari’, in Krirajagat, 16 February 2003, in Mahmud, Stadium Er Sei Addata Aaj Aar Nei, p. 49.

21. Ibid.

22. The Daily Janakantha, 2 June 1999, p. 1.

23. Ibid. Author’s translation.

24. Ibid., p. 15.

25. Dulal Mahmud, ‘Crickete Je Proshner Uttar Sahaje Mele Na’ (The question which is diffult to answer in cricket), in Mahmud, Stadium Er Sei Addata Aaj Aar Nei, p. 33.

26. Ibid.., p. 24.

27. Ibid..

28. The Daily Janakantha, 2 June 1999, p. 6.

29. On the eve of the Bangladesh-Scotland match in the 1999 World cup, Mostafa Mamoon noted that international football generates mass passion while cricket became a fashion in Bangladesh. See Mostafa Mamoon, ‘Fashion Bonam Passion’ (Fashion versus passion), Prothom Alo, 23 May 1999, in Mostafa Mamoon, Bouncer er Mukhe (In the face of bouncer). Dhaka: Shikor, 2003, pp. 11-14. With Bangladesh’s victory over Scotland and Pakistan, it could be artgued, cricket was transformed into a national passion.

30. Omar Kureishi, ‘Bangladesh move to the centre-stage’, The Dawn, 5 July 2000, available atbanglacricket.com.

31. Khondaker Mirazur Rahman, ’10 Years of Test Status: Where Do We Stand Now?’, A Journey … Test Cricket: 10 Years of Bangladesh. Dhaka: Bangladesh Cricket Board, 2011, p. 7.

32. Cited in ‘The History of Bangladesh Cricket’.

33. The Daily Star, 10 November 2000, p. 6. In fact, BCB launched a new first class format National League from 1999/2000 season. The home and away tournament had divisional teams from Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Khulna, Barisal and Rajshahi.

34. These performances include the Test against Pakistan from 3-6 September 2003 in Multan, St Lucia Test against the West Indies from 28 May to 1 June 2004 and Fatullah Test against Australia from 9-13 April 2006.

35. Krirajagat, vol. 30, no. 3 (16 August 2006), pp. 48-9.

36. Krirajagat, vol. 30, no. 2 (1 August 2006), p. 18.

37. Zarina Rahman Khan, ‘Decentralized Governance: Trials and Triumphs’, in Rounaq Jahan, ed. Bangladesh: Promise and Performance, Dhaka: UPL, 2000, p. 344.

38. Dasgupta, ‘Bangladesh Cricket’, p. 179.

39. Lawrence Ziring, Bangladesh: From Mujib to Ershad, An Interpretive Study, Karachi: Oxford University Press, 1992, p. 1.

40. Ibid., p. 2.

41. Ranabir Samaddar, ‘Many Histories and Few Silences – the Nationalist History of Nationalism in Bangladesh’, in Barun De and Ranabir Samddar, eds. State, Development and Political Culture: Bangladesh and India, New Delhi: Har Anand, 1997, p. 73.

42. Sreeradha Datta offers a useful discussion on this dual basis of national identity. See Datta, Bangladesh, pp. 17-29.

43. Rafiuddin Ahmed, ‘Introduction’, in Rafiuddin Ahmed, ed. Religion, Nationalism and Politics in Bangladesh, New Delhi: South Asian Publishers, 1990, p. 2.

44. This was first suggested by Muhammad Ghulam Kabir. For details, see Muhammad Ghulam Kabir, Changing Face of Nationalism: The Case of Bangladesh, Dhaka: The University Press Limited, 1994, p. 211. Also see M.G. Kabir, ‘Religion, Language and Nationalism in Bangladesh’, in Rafiuddin Ahmed, ed. Religion, Nationalism and Politics in Bangladesh, New Delhi: South Asian Publishers, 1990, pp. 35-49, where he writes: ‘The creation of Bangladesh as a sovereign nation in 1971 inaugurated a new era of nationalist development, characterized by a search for a new identity, not entirely based on language. In this new phase, there is a perceptible decline on the exclusive emphasis earlier given to language. Instead, this is being replaced by a newer ideology with a curious mixture of religion and language as its basis. In effect, religion and language have appeared as the two most important elements in the identity compound of the Bengali Muslims in recent times. Changing currents of nationalist development in the region manifest the shifts in the salience of these two identities.’ (p. 35)

45. Rafiuddin Ahmed, ‘Introduction’, in Rafiuddin Ahmed, ed. Religion, Nationalism and Politics in Bangladesh, New Delhi: South Asian Publishers, 1990, p. 31.

46. A brief but excellent discussion on some of these secular traditions/occasions and their impact on popular life is offered in Sufia M. Uddin, Constructing Bangladesh, Chappel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2006, pp. 124-36.

47. While its has been argued that ‘depending on who is in power, national holidays are celebrated differently – so differently that the festivities clearly indicate how the competing nationalisms are articulated’ (Uddin, Constructing Bangladesh, p. 139), one needs to remember that the Bangladeshi masses attach a secular sense of national pride, a collective memory of fight against internal colonialism, and an emotional bond with their homeland, to these ‘invented traditions’. I would argue that the political challenges to the secular nationalist identity represented through these events are yet to create any serious confusion or reaction in the mass psyche about the significance of the same.

48. Pritam Banerjee, ‘Bangladeshi Diaspora: Existence of Multiple Identities of Bengalis Abroad’, in Dipankar Sengupta and Sudhir Kumar Singh, eds. Minorities and Human Rights in Bangladesh, Delhi: Authorspress, 2003, p. 266.

49. Dainik Janokantho, 27 March 2007, p. 2.

50. Ibid., p. 1.

51. Interview with Muntassir Mamoon, Dhaka: 19 February 2011.

52. Dibakar Acharya, ‘Jitte Sikhi, Harte Sikhi’ (Let’s learn to win and to be beaten), Saptahik Kagoj, Vol. 3, No. 6 (20 February 2011), p. 37. The author described the aggressive reaction after defeat in a match as typically Indian and urged the Bangladeshis not to emulate this culture, which only affects the reputation of the nation.

53. Mahfuz Anam, ‘Editor’s Note’, Star Roar: World Cup Special, February 2011, p. 1.

54. Rezanur Rahman, ‘Cup Kintu Ektai, Seta Jitte Hobe’ (There is only one cup, we have to win it), Anando Alo, Vol. 6, No. 9 (16 February 2011), p. 15.

55. Uddin, Constructing Bangladesh, p. 142.

56. Ibid., p. 145.

57. For details on this, see Willem van Schendel, ‘Bengalis, Bangladeshis and Others: Chakma Visions of a Pluralist Bangladesh’, in Rounaq Jahan, ed. Bangladesh: Promise and Performance, Dhaka: UPL, 2000.

58. For details on this, see Partha Chatterjee, The Nation and Its Fragments: Colonial and Postcolonial Histories, Princeton: Prince University Press, 1993.

59. Uddin, Constructing Bangladesh, p. 151.

60. Dainik Ittefaq, 4 November 1972, Kabir, Changing Face of Nationalism, p. 191.

Dainik Ittefaq, 20 August 1972, Kabir, Changing Face of Nationalism, p. 190.

Full Article

Published
April 2026

Issue
Volume 8, English; January 2026

Section
Liberation War