An open letter to Bangladesh fans requesting them to maintain class and sportsman spirit

Dear compatriots,

First of all, congratulations are in order—we have qualified for the World T20 after beating Netherlands and then Oman in what was a tough qualifying group to start with.

We have come a long way in the last few years. Our first Asia Cup final in 2012 might have been seen as a fluke by many, but it was actually the beginning of an erratic but upward curve. Our last final at the Asia Cup was no fluke by any means—we played some quality cricket and might as well have won the tournament had it been a 50 over format, the one in which we excel.

We are way behind in Tests, but one can actually feel the scent of improvement that the current batch could offer. Similarly, in the T20Is, we have lost way too many times and find ourselves behind even Afghanistan—to whom I mean no disrespect.

It seems as though we have problem in the longest and shortest version of the game, but if our recent performances in T20Is are of any indication, it points towards the forward direction. The bottom-line is: we are a team on the rise regardless of the format.

The reason why I am writing you—my fellow Bangladeshis—this letter is to share something that needs to be addressed, something that is actually going out of hand according to me.

Let’s face it: our behavior of late has been horrid to say the least. While generalizing is a crime, I would just refer some of those fans as ‘us’ for the sake of clear reading.

Yes, we have faced serious humiliation from other teams over years. Yes, we have been minnows for many years. Yes, we have had to go through and endure a lot of pain. And yes, we have the right to celebrate ecstatically after we win games.

But there is a limit—and we have crossed that more than a few times.

Right now, with us beating the already-established teams in ODIs becoming the norm, it seems absurd for us to go overboard with celebrations. Beating Pakistan one-off way back in the 90s warranted that kind of celebration, because we knew that it was once-in-a-blue-moon sort of thing, but doing the same right now is, frankly, quite embarrassing.

Granted, we are Bangladeshis—we are perhaps the most passionate people in the world; after all, we are the only country in the world whose youth had to spill blood in order for us to communicate in our mother language. But that doesn’t mean that we should show absolutely no respect to our opponents. In fact, our history suggests that we should be respectful if nothing.

One of the biggest reasons why the Indian cricket team is among the most disliked is because of their fans' aggressive nature. The very MS Dhoni that they laud now as they best finisher was the same guy whose house they attacked on more than once occasion.

Even though it might sound weird, it is true because fans represent a team. Whenever I ask a Bangladeshi the reason for her/his dislike of the Indian team, the answer is almost always the same: their fans.

And now, we are being exactly what we loathe. Calling names, insulting, making racist remarks, abusing, morbid photoshops…we seem to have lost the plot, we seem to have been consumed by the darkness.

When it comes to passion, no other country can beat us. We are already champions in that regard. I don’t know another country whose fans stand in line in front of the ticket counter THREE days before it even opens. That alone is a huge testament of our love for the sport.

But there is always a line we should never cross. Passion that is not controlled is the biggest cause of catastrophe, as history has seen. Banter is fine as long as it is within the spirits of gamesmanship—something that West Indian supporters have shown us throughout decades.

At the end of the day, it is just a game—although a game that runs through our veins. Players that are out on the field—the main guys, the ones on whose performance we take pride and actions—always show respect to each other, so isn’t it our duty to do the same and represent our team like they would WANT us to?

Whatever we have achieved as a nation, be it in cricket or anything, we have had to go through a lot of struggles in order to so. 1952 (language movement), 1971 (independence), 2000 (Test status)... we should all remember our roots and pay respects--at least for the sake of our martyrs and cricketers.

Victory and defeat, they are just cycles…they come and go. But class, my fellow Bangladeshis, is something that lives forever.

Regards,

Just another Bangladeshi.