5 most loved foreign cricketers in Bangladesh

Bangladesh, a South Asian country that is marked by lush greenery and many waterways. This is the very first introduction of Bangladesh to the world. But, over the few decades, Bangladesh also became known by the beautiful game of Cricket. The game has immense contribution to change the imagery of Bangladesh to the other parts of the world.

In a big scenario, Bangladesh do not have any great achievement in cricket, like winning a World Cup or even a multi-national tournament yet, even more, they are not the strongest cricket country of the continent. But, this deficit has not been an obstacle for Bangladeshi people to love the game of cricket madly.

Besides having the rivers like Padma, Meghna, Jamuna, Bangladeshi people also have the immeasurable love for cricket. Their love for cricket is also flowing like their beautiful rivers all over the country. Bangladesh have their own cricketers to cheer about, but their love is beyond that. Here we can name five persons, who are the most loved foreign cricketers in Bangladesh.

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#5 Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)

South Africa v Sri Lanka: Quarter Final - 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup

The Sri Lankan legend scored more than 3000 runs against Bangladesh across all formats. His best knock in Test cricket (319, Chittagong, 2014) also been notched up against the Tigers. He smashed 12 of his 63 hundreds against Bangladesh and in many occasions, he remained as the main obstacle of Tigers to win matches. But, the love of Bangladesh for Sangakkara never decreased

The Sri Lankan legend played 19 of his 594 international matches in Bangladesh. He played in the Bangladesh Premier League as well. After Chandika Hathurusingha’s era as Bangladesh’s coach, BCB had offered Sangakkara to take over the role of head coach. But, he declined for some reasons.

Sangakkara still remains one of the foreign cricketers, who is considered as a role model by many Bangladeshi youngsters.

#4 Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)

Pakistan v West Indies - 2011 ICC World Cup Quarter-Final

Sahibzada Mohammad Shahid Khan Afridi, popularly known as Shahid Afridi is one of the most beloved cricketers in Bangladesh. The legendary Pakistani all-rounder played 31 international games against the Tigers and scored 708 runs with a century and two fifties to his name. He got MOM award six times against Bangladesh. But, that did not make any impact on the love of Bangladesh for Afridi.

When Bangladesh cricket team were growing up during the 90s, people love to support other countries in the big events of cricket. Shahid Afridi was lucky enough to be loved by crores of spectators of Bangladesh on that time.

Afridi played 17 of his 524 international matches in Bangladesh and 395 with two fifties to his name. He was awarded Man of the Match four times in Bangladesh. Afridi is also a regular name in the Bangladesh Premier League.

If you ask young cricketers of Bangladesh to name their idols, many of them will say the name of Shahid Afridi.

#3 Sourav Ganguly (India)

Sourav Ganguly of India celebrates his century during the ICC Cricket

The former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly is definitely one of the most loved foreign cricketers in Bangladesh. Is Sourav a foreign person in Bangladesh? Don’t laugh if crores of Bangladeshis say that, Sourav is our man but he played for India! Here a note that, Sourav is popularly known as Dada in Bangladesh.

Sourav Ganguly is born and grown up in Kolkata, West Bengal. The Indian state is the closest foreign city of Bangladesh where all people speak the Bengali language, which is also the main language of Bangladesh. So, there is a strong connectivity of Bangladeshi people with Sourav Dada.

The southpaw was the captain of India when Bangladesh played their inaugural Test back in 2000. Sourav played 15 of his 424 international matches. He scored 830 runs against Bangladesh in an average of 59.28 across the formats with a couple of tons and seven fifties.

Maybe, the list of most loved foreign cricketers in Bangladesh will be changed day by day, but the name of Sourav will remain forever. He his first cricketing hero to many of Bangladesh who grew up late of the 90s and early of 2000.

#2 Chris Gayle (West Indies)

England v West Indies - 3rd Royal London One Day International

Of course, Chris Gayle is one of the most loved cricketers of Bangladesh. Maybe, he is one of the most loved cricketers in any cricket playing country around the globe.

Chris Gayle is one the most loved cricketers not only for his monster-like cricketing skills, but the batsman gets the love for his entertaining character too. Gayle addressed himself as a ‘Six Machine’ on his biographical book. You may guess his cheerful character by the name of his biographical book.

Gayle played 32 of his 443 international matches across the formats against Bangladesh and scored 1223 with two centuries and seven fifties to his name. Gayle is also a regular name in Bangladesh Premier League like Shahid Afridi and Kumar Sangakkara.

#1 Sachin Tendulkar (India)

Sachin Tendulkar celebrates his 100th century at Mirpur, 2012

There was a time when so many people of Bangladesh weren’t used to understand cricket, but love Sachin Tendulkar, the biggest star the game of cricket ever had. The Indian legend scored his tremendous 100th international century in the soil of Bangladesh against the hosts.

Partnerships of Sachin and Sourav were a must-watch affair in the lives of many Bangladeshis. That still remains as a golden memory.

The master blaster played 19 of his 664 international matches against Bangladesh and scored 1316 runs with six tons and 2 fifties. He was awarded two Man of the Match awards against the Tigers. This list might be different by different people, but the number one place belongs to Sachin Tendulkar.