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

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) commemorated the silver jubilee of achieving Test status with the unveiling of an Honours Board at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. A special program, held on June 26, 2000, marked the occasion.

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

Bangladesh played its first Test match against India on November 10, 2000, a watershed moment in the nation's cricketing history.

In addition to the Honours Board, a commemorative cabinet was installed, showcasing the various trophies won by Bangladeshi players over the years.

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.

Youth and Sports Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan inaugurated the Honours Board. The event served as a reunion for many players who participated in Bangladesh's inaugural Test match against India in 2000. Notably, 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 part of a week-long celebration marking 25 years since Bangladesh gained Test status.

A series of events are taking place across the country to commemorate this significant achievement. These include an Under-12 six-a-side tournament in divisional cities, as well as a talent search for promising pacers and spinners.

The BCB hosted a reunion to honor the individuals who laid the foundation for Bangladesh's Test cricket 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 who were involved in the 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," Bulbul stated.

Habibul Bashar recalled the excitement of his late 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," the former captain said.