Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly hailed Bangladesh for the progress they have made since entering into Test cricket exactly 10 years ago on this day against his India.
Ganguly had tossed the coin with Naimur Rahman in Bangladesh’s inaugural Test on November 10, 2000, marking a new journey for the Tigers in top flight cricket.
‘I can still remember the day. It was really a memorable occasion for Bangladesh,’ Ganguly told reporters at the Hazarat Shahjalal Airport on Wednesday after he arrived in Dhaka to celebrate the 100 days countdown of World Cup 2011.
‘They have made 400 runs against us, so obviously they had had some quality players,’ he said.
‘But now they have improved much. They have got players like Sakib, Tamim. I have seen Tamim scoring a hundred against England at Lord’s this year,’ added Ganguly, the most successful Indian Test captain.
‘I also saw them playing against New Zealand recently. If they can maintain the consistency they have got a good chance to do well in the World Cup,’ he said.
Ganguly, however, urged the Bangladesh Cricket Board not to get stuck up with a plan only for the upcoming World Cup.
‘They should rather look beyond the World Cup. The most important thing is Test cricket. If you can do well, you have got a chance to do well in any format,’ he said.
Ganguly, who now plays only Twenty20 cricket for the Indian Premier League outfit Kolkata Knight Riders, said he always enjoyed coming to Bangladesh.
‘It’s like coming back home. Everybody speaks in the same language as I do and also I have got so many friends here. I always enjoy coming here.
Ganguly, affectionately called ‘Prince of Kolkata’, is scheduled to leave Dhaka at night after the countdown ceremony.
