The Unfulfilled Dream of a Cricket Museum in Bangladesh
A Nation Without a Home for Its Sporting Heart
International Museum Day, celebrated annually on May 18, carries the theme ‘Museums Uniting a Divided World.’ This concept highlights how museums serve as vital cultural bridges, connecting history with the present and fostering empathy across generations. In Bangladesh, we have dedicated spaces to honor our liberation struggle, military history, and even our currency. Yet, there remains a complete absence of a permanent institutional space for the one cultural force that transcends religion, class, and politics: cricket.
The Importance of Preserving Our Legacy
Since independence, the cricketing journey of Bangladesh has provided the nation with collective joy, heartbreak, and immense national pride. Behind these emotional highs and lows lie decades of sacrifice and achievement. However, without a formal archive managed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), we risk losing the physical manifestations of our history. For those who have dedicated years to collecting memorabilia, it is plain to see that every day of delay results in the gradual erosion of our sporting heritage.
Global Standards and the Missing Link
The global culture of preserving cricketing heritage is deeply established. Since the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) opened its celebrated museum at Lord’s in 1953, nearly every Test-playing nation has created its own ‘memory palace.’ Whether it is the Bradman Museum in Australia or the recently established Sri Lanka Cricket Museum, the world consistently honors its sporting heroes. Private collectors globally have followed suit, with expansive galleries in Colombo, Dubai, and Kolkata displaying gear from legends like Sir Garry Sobers, Sachin Tendulkar, and Don Bradman.
When visiting these international institutions, the absence of Bangladesh is glaring. At Lord’s, our rich history is reduced to a single item: the bat Aminul Islam Bulbul used to score our debut Test century. In New Zealand, records of legendary partnerships by Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim hang on foreign walls. The very moments that galvanized millions of Bangladeshis are currently commemorated in London, Wellington, and Dubai—but not in Dhaka.
Temporary Efforts and Public Hunger
There have been localized attempts to bridge this gap. Starting in 2011, exhibitions at the Russian Cultural Centre and the National Museum provided a glimpse into what could be. Between 2014 and 2017, the Bangladesh Cricket Supporters’ Association (BCSA) organized festivals that showcased extraordinary treasures. These included signed bats from Tendulkar and Lara, match-worn gear from legends like Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim, and historic tickets from iconic victories, including the 2008 win over India.
The public response to these events was overwhelming. The wonder on the faces of visitors revealed a deep, unfulfilled hunger for their own sporting history. However, temporary exhibitions cannot safeguard a legacy. Each time these galleries closed, the artifacts were returned to cardboard boxes, hidden away from the public gaze.
The Path Forward: Institutional Will
Establishing a permanent museum requires meticulous research, institutional commitment, and clear financial planning. It does not need to be a grand, sprawling structure from day one; it could begin as a dedicated wing at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. Over time, it could sustain itself through ticketing, tourism, and community support. What is missing is not the material—which is abundant—but the political will to begin the project.
To the leadership of the BCB and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the call to action is clear: the time is now. We possess the history, the artifacts, and the passionate curators. We only lack a home. To paraphrase Pablo Picasso, who once said, ‘Give me a museum and I will fill it,’ the message to our authorities is simple: Give Bangladesh a cricket museum, and we will ensure it is filled with the stories that define our national pride.
