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From Cubs to Tigers

Shahana Siddiqui
Dear Tigers,
WHAT an unbelievable tournament! I was privileged and honoured to have witnessed all of you making history in the last three matches (BAN vs IND, BAN vs SL, and of course BAN vs PAK). Like millions of Bangladeshis, I cheered during the boundaries, jeered when the extras were given, cried when those 2 runs became too far, and stood up clapping with great pride at my national team that has truly come of age. What made us even more emotional during this tournament was to see all of you play like a real team. There was respect and unity for each other which, to be honest, we had not seen before. You played strength by strength and every player contributed to the team's achievements. For a nation that is divided on so many grounds, it was the Tigers and their united front that brought 160 million people together under the same banner. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for playing like the Tigers you really are!
When my friends and I first got into cricket in the early 1990s, we grew up watching foreign teams, in particular India and Pakistan. I remember being fascinated at the age of 11 by a teenage Indian batsman who played his first World Cup in 1992. The likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Waqar Yunus, Brian Lara were our heroes. Even after we qualified at the ICC, I am not going to lie, given
the national team's past performance, I followed my favourite team South Africa's matches more than Bangladesh's ones!
But that is no longer the case. Now, it is amazing to watch my four year old son scream at the top of his lungs for his favourite cricketer, our very own Shakib al Hasan. Everything, from the Bangladesh cricket jersey to his bat and ball are "Shakibjama" "Shakib cricket"! Our children no longer need to look far for heroes, for inspiration, like the way my generation did. We have our very own Shakib, Nasir, Nazim, Mushfiq, Mashrefe, Tamim, Jahurul, (and yes, Shahadat, you too!).
Sports is crucial for healthy and wholesome upbringing of children and I feel that with the lack of strong national teams in the various
sports we play, we have not invested enough on clubs, teams, and even neighbourhood playgrounds. Sports not only keep young ones physically fit, but research shows that children who play a sport do less drugs, have more discipline in their lifestyle and do well in their studies. Sports celebrities therefore can have strong influence on children's minds and choices. We look to our national cricket team not only for entertainment, but also see each individual player as spokesperson for the millions of children who want to have the chance to run with a hockey stick, hold a bat, kick a football, swim the distance, climb the mountains. It is from that very sparkle I see in my son's eyes when he watches his favourite player on the field that I beg of you as a mother, as a fellow citizen, to uphold values that children like my son can look up to.
In recent times, the world of international cricket has been tainted with misdeeds of a few. Cricket truly is an amazing sport that can be restored to its old glory. We the citizens, the parents, look to you to restore the faith lost. You have proven to the world that not money or greed but perseverance, dedication, and team effort have made you into the roaring tigers of South Asian cricket! The loss has gained you the hearts of millions! As long you keep playing like the way you did during this Asia Cup, we, your fans, will keep roaring behind you!
The writer is a cricket fan.