While some 12,000 fortunate spectators inside the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium yesterday were treated to Shakib Al Hasan’s guile and Tamim Iqbal’s blaze, millions around the country were left frustrated at not finding an avenue to the cricket match; either through television or the radio or live streaming on the internet.
People from all over the country were eager to learn if any television channel was broadcasting the first practice match between the Tigers and Canada, but to no avail.
IMG Group, who hold the broadcast rights of the grand event, sold it to ESPN-Star who will only telecast a few ‘important’ matches that feature India.
The only way the masses in Bangladesh could have witnessed the game was if Bangladesh Television or Radio Bangladesh had bought the rights from IMG, and broadcast the match with their own logistics.
According to sources, Bangladesh Television, the only terrestrial channel in the country, did not show any interest in televising the matches while Bangladesh Radio did initially approach, but later retreated, as their bid did not match with the demands of the rights holders. The result was that the people were denied an opportunity to witness the Tigers’ bold stride to the World Cup.
