STORY: Cricket culture deeply inspires Bangladesh's young generation
SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 18, 2025
DATELINE: Feb. 26, 2025
LENGTH: 00:02:01
LOCATION: Dhaka
CATEGORY: SPORTS

SHORTLIST:
1. various of young players practicing cricket
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Bengali): SALMAN RAHMAN RAFSAN, Child cricketer
3. various of young players practicing cricket
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Bengali): BANIL SAHA BRANO, Teenage cricketer
5. various of young players practicing cricket
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Bengali): MD SAIFUL ISLAM KHOKON, Cricket coach
7. various of young players practicing cricket

STORYLINE:

Cricket in Bangladesh is more than just a game; it is deeply woven into the nation's cultural fabric, transcending differences and uniting people across the south Asian country.

Cricket is played now in virtually every nook and corner of the country, which is home to 170 million people, from the bustling areas of the capital Dhaka to rural villages.

Following Bangladesh's independence in 1971, the establishment of the Bangladesh Cricket Board in 1972 marked the beginning of organized cricket in the country. Bangladesh's national cricket team, affectionately known as the Tigers or Bangla Tigers, embodies the spirit of the nation.

Children often play in Dhaka's narrow alleyways with makeshift equipment like wooden bats and tennis balls, dreaming of one day representing the national team. Salman Rahman Rafsan was one of them playing in the street, but now he can play cricket on a club ground in Dhaka.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Bengali): SALMAN RAHMAN RAFSAN, Child cricketer
"I am 11 years old. Actually, I started playing cricket with my friends. I used to play in the front yard of my house. So from then on slowly my interest in cricket increased and I joined this club. Cricket is actually a very popular sport in Bangladesh. When I play, my fitness is very good. So this is why I enrolled in cricket."

The creation of the National Cricket League in 1999-2000 and Bangladesh's full membership of the International Cricket Council in 2000 further propelled the sport's development.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Bengali): BANIL SAHA BRANO, Teenage cricketer
"I am 13 years old. I am in the eighth grade and I have played cricket for three years. I like cricket very much because I can keep myself healthy by playing cricket. "

The future of cricket in Bangladesh looks promising, thanks to a passionate fan base, a strong domestic league, and a growing pool of talent, according to Md Saiful Islam Khokon, a coach at Dhaka's leading City Club Cricket Academy.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Bengali): MD SAIFUL ISLAM KHOKON, Cricket coach
"The batch I am practicing with is under fourteen, and I like practicing with them. It is much easier to prepare them for the future. It is also much easier for them to play for the national team from now on. Actually, cricket in Bangladesh is really popular, everyone loves cricket. Cricket is not just a game; it can develop a person into a better man."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Dhaka.
(XHTV)