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Historic Inaugural Test tomorrow

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November 9, 2000 

Dhaka (UNB) – A new chapter in Bangladesh’s sports history opens on Friday when the national cricket team takes on India in the Dutch-Bangla Inaugural Test at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the historic match at 9:30 am.

With this match, cricket-loving people of Dhaka will take the opportunity to enjoy a test match for the first time after independence.

Besides, this is for the first time in the 123-year test history that two Bengali-speaking cricket captain will come out onto the field with their teams.

Naimur Rahman Durjoy writes his name as the first test captain of Bangladesh and coincidentally, Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly also makes his debut as a test captain.

Nobody expects the test-babes’ win against one of the oldest test-playing nations but all are waiting to see their team’s respectable performance in the field, which will prove their potentiality.

Bangladesh is going to make the earliest debut in the test cricket after getting the membership of the elite club on June 26 this year.

On way to earn the glory, Bangladesh won the ICC trophy in 1997 to qualify for the World Cup 1999 and strengthened their position by upsetting Pakistan in the World Cup. Cricket crazy fans expect that their team justify their entrance in the highest level of the world cricket showing best performance on the familiar pitch and ground.

But the cricketers frustrated the fans showing lackluster performance in Kenya and South Africa tour, which was their first assignment after getting the test status.

Cricket experts think unfamiliar condition was responsible for the frustrating results but there will be no excuse for the team if they repeat it in the home soil.

Bangladesh already had some experiences in one-day cricket but never faced such a tough challenge of the five-day match, which is totally different in its character and technique.

India, also played in the debut tests of Pakistan and Zimbabwe, came here with the bitter memory from Sharjah where they were bowled out for only 54 runs in the final against Sri Lanka.

The match against Bangladesh will be a good one for the Indian team to find out their rhythm and make a good practice prior to their home series against Zimbabwe.

India failed to win any test match abroad in last seven years.

Bangladeshi willow holders feel some sort of relief in absence of Anil Kumble, the great leg spinner, who is missing the tour due to injury.

But the bowlers will have to face a strong batting line-up comprising the great Sachin Tendulkar, dependable Rahul Dravid, promising S Ramesh and captain Sourav Ganguly himself.

Bangladesh Television and satellite TV network Sony Max will telecast the match live from the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

World’s two top-ranking umpires—-David Shepherd of England and Steve Bucknor of West Indies—will conduct match.

Another Englishman Raman Subba Row will act as the match referee while local Mahbubur Rahman has been named as the third umpire. SB Chowdhury Shishir will be the reserve umpire.

Match timing: First session: 9:30pm to 11:30pm. Lunch: 11:30pm to 12:10pm. Second session: 12:10pm to 14:10pm. Tea: 14:10pm to 14:30 pm and Third session: 14:30pm to 16:30pm.

Bangladesh Cricket Board invited cricket personalities all over the world to watch the match including two former foreign coaches of Bangladesh and cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar.

Thirteen players and two officials of the Indian team arrived here on Tuesday while their top order batsman Yuvraj Singh came today.

Meanwhile, the Indian team practised for about three hours at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.