letters@thedailystar.net

We should play for a draw

Before the start of the first Test match against Sri Lanka, the Tigers looked like they had matured as a cricketing unit and looked to win instead of a draw. The way Tamim had played during the last Asia Cup and scored 4 consecutive half centuries made us think that he had developed as a cricketer. He had cemented his place in the team as a permanent opening batsman.

Unfortunately, this also made him very arrogant as a player. He went back to his old ways of hitting short balls in the air which got him out. During his second innings he again played an irresponsible shot in the air to get out. This is not expected from Bangladesh's so called best batsman or the Vice Captain. No matter how great the players have become, they should always remain humble. The greatest quality of Sachin Tendulkar, Steve Waugh and even his uncle, Akram Khan was that they were always humble.

One last word I would like to add is that we still have not matured as a Test playing nation. We should play for a draw. It's better than losing.

Aminur Rahim

NewDOHS, Mohakhali, Dhaka

Which side are you on?

Most institutions in the country have become highly politicised. Our teachers, lawyers, journalists, media and cultural personalities, government employees, economists, doctors act and speak for the political party they support. Our politics has divided people into two groups: Awami-minded and BNP-minded.

We need to be united; we need to breach the division between us so that we can think ourselves as citizens of Bangladesh first before we think which party we support.

Tanim Iqbal Mohammadpur Dhaka

RIP to Test cricket!

Time is ripe to bid RIP to Test cricket, as logically presented in an article published on January 29 in a local English daily. That is the present reality as people just can not manage to spend five whole days to watch cricket!

In my opinion ICC must be realistic in this matter, and in the interest of expanding and popularising cricket in more countries across the globe, it will be pragmatic and justified to go for establishing One-day cricket (50 over or 20/20).

This will go a long way in popularising cricket among people.

S. A. Mansoor

Dhaka