Home ›› 19 Aug 2021 ›› Sport
Among the growing associate cricketing nations around the world, there was a visible presence Indian sub-continent diaspora. Mainly, Indian and Pakistani expatriates featured for sides like Oman, Hong Kong and UAE.
But now, Bangladesh diasporas are also making inroads as a couple of them have already made their international debuts for European sides.
Humayun Kabir Jyoti from Khulna made his twenty20 international debut for Sweden on August 14, 2021, and previously, Rakibul Hasan played eight T20Is for Italy.
Humayun, who is currently pursuing his MBA in Marketing and Management at the University of Gävle, moved to Sweden in 2017 after completing his BBA from Northern University.
Humayun, just like his friend of Bangladesh national team Nurul Hasan Sohan, is a wicket-keeper in trait. He played at the age levels for Khulna and played local cricket there. His family supported his ambition to continue cricket, but they also wanted him to get higher education. And thus, Humayun landed in Sweden.
Once there, his passion for cricket saw him try for the local team Bangla Tigers, who were then in the first division of the Swedish cricket pyramid and got selected. Soon, they topped the division and moved into the elite division, the top tier of Swedish cricket.
But his moment of reckoning came on August 14, 2021, as he featured for Sweden against Denmark in a couple of T20Is. Despite scoring only two, Sweden were victorious by three wickets. In the second match, Humayun scored an unbeaten 11 but saw his team lose by eight runs.
Talking to The Business Post, Humayun said it was of immense pride to represent a nation in international cricket.
“It is a big deal to represent any country in the international arena. Yes, of course, motherland comes first. But it’s a huge honour to play international cricket for a country,” Humayun told TBP.
In Sweden, the Khulna-born cricketer is now working under a legend of the game, Jonty Rhodes. Humayun said that the South African is the best coach he has ever had and always motivates the team.
“Jonty is a brilliant coach. You won’t understand how good he is till you meet him. I have worked with a lot of coaches, but he is by far the best. Always motivates us, tells us to keep our heads always high,” he said.
Humayun was amazed at the fitness level of the South African great. He said that the 52-year-old coach was still way fitter than every one of them.
“His fitness is amazing. He never stops. He tells us to take some rest, but he doesn’t. He always keeps working with one of us. He is way fitter than all of us. To reach his level, we will have to do an impossible amount of work,” Humayun added.
Rakibul, who played for Italy, though, has a very different story. He did not move out to Italy for higher studies. It was to help his family financially. His father died in 2003, and as the eldest sibling, Rakibul sacrificed his dream to play international cricket for Bangladesh as he moved to Italy in 2011 to look after his family. Before moving to the European nation, he represented Bangladesh at the Under-17 level and played for Kalabagan KC, Indira Road and Jatrabari club in domestic cricket.
After coming to Italy, Rakibul found his way to Bologna club and played there for three years at the top level of Italian cricket. And the left-arm spinner’s performances made sure that he caught the eye of the selectors.
But there was one more hurdle for Rakibul. Until he had stayed in Italy for five years, he could not play for their national team. So he travelled with the national team on their tours to get along but could not take the field.
Finally, he could play for Italy in 2017. And in 2019, his moment of truth came as he played his first T20I on May 25 against Oman.
Rakibul was happy to play international cricket but was not over the moon as it did not come in a Bangladesh shirt.
“I was happy after I got my international debut. But not very much as it was not for Bangladesh. But still, it was representing a country in international cricket, and now I have my name permanently placed in the record books,” Rakibul said.
Playing eight T20Is so far, Rakibul has picked up eight wickets at an average of 18.37.
Another cricketer from Bangladesh, Shaker Ahmed, is trying to make his way up USA cricket. He played for Bangladesh at the 2010 U-19 World Cup, where he played with Sabbir Rahman, Soumya Sarkar and Mominul Haque.
He has been putting in impressive performances at Michigan, Detroit and is likely to make his way to the national team. Before moving to USA, Shaker played 17 first-class matches and picked up 45 wickets.
