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

Bangladesh Celebrates Test Silver Jubilee with Honours Board Unveiling

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) commemorated the 25th anniversary of achieving Test status with a special event at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. A highlight of the celebration was the unveiling of a new Honours Board on June 26, 2000.

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

A Tribute to Test Cricketers

The Honours Board proudly displays 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.

First Test and Commemorative Display

Bangladesh played its first Test match against India on November 10, 2000. In addition to the Honours Board, a commemorative cabinet was installed, showcasing trophies won by Bangladeshi players.

Inauguration and Reunion

Youth and Sports Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan officially inaugurated the Honours Board. The event served as a reunion, bringing together many players from Bangladesh's inaugural Test squad. Notably, five members – Naimur Rahman Durjoy, Akram Khan, Khaled Mashud Pilot, Manjurul Islam, and Al Shahriar Rokon – were unable to attend.

Week-long Celebration

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

Nationwide Events

To mark this significant milestone, various events are being held across Bangladesh, including an Under-12 six-a-side tournament in divisional cities and a search for promising pacers and spinners.

Remembering the Foundation

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

Bulbul emphasized the dual purpose of the celebration: "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."

Habibul Bashar reminisced about the excitement of receiving his call-up to the team at the last minute.