Cricket in Bangladesh,Afghanistan has been growing since the day the nations entered the realm of International arena and ever since the teams started to defeat the superpowers of the world,something more to achieve in global stage have become a talked issue over the cricket universe and all the spheres of life. As the 2023 world cup coming ahead this year,with few months of time to go,I would be looking forward to cover some of the aspects which the whole media tend to skip away, focusing on something that attracts viewer's attention.
We all know,in any sporting competitions when the major titles start to blow the whistle and the curtain of big tournament starts to fall down, the initial moments of time before hosting such sporting actions occur - then its the fans, media, general sports loving people become so much busy in expressing their sports madness. World cup is such a tournament that holds the power to embrace and unite the whole world, whether it is football or cricket, the expectations for each country is unmatched to anything.
If the question arises, which parts of the world has higher fanbase, craze and active participation in different sporting activities with regards to cricket, then I would definitely point to the South Asian Region not because the population density is high or cricketing infrastructure is unique, or the statistical cause that the bigger number of test playing nations are from the region and some of the countries have bigger influence on ICC (the cricket regulating board) ; rather it is the hype, people's participations and own emotions that make cricket more popular in this region.
History has a fair say on the issue for the reason, why it is so famous specially in South Asia. What I find as most solid reason that, when British Raj Company gathered around the orient and settled there with "colonial regime", thats the time when cricket started to become popular and since the provincial rulers of Indian lords initiated playing on the pitches of the native soil, thats how the game started to become popular . British lords had fun time playing cricket in their turf and the local youngsters started to take part in active playing against them, thats how the sport got new dimensions.
There is a famous Indian movie(bollywood) named laagan featuring Aamir Khan as the protagonist which depicted an overall idea how Indian people started to play cricket and that was just 20th century phenomenon. That is the period when the game found its remodeling of rules, regulations, and when regional and world level tournaments start to propagate and organized,national level board and team began to get a decent shape.
Now the reason I brought forward the conceptual background because India is going to host this year's tournament and I am very much focused and excited to see what might happen in the tour. Of course, India would try to get their home conditions to the fullest in their favour, but the global superpowers like Australia, England, New Zealand & South Africa wont just sit back and watch India to take the world cup that easily.
But, with regard to cricket world cup, there has been a less know trend that the nation which hosts the world cup, has higher percentage (80%) of chances to win the cup and recent history do support the case very well. Take for example,back in 2011 India was the nation hosting and winning, in 2015 Australia the same and eventually to 2019 England who hosted and secured the legendary final winning from the barest of all winning margin and that still gives goosebumps to me. Hard to forget that !!
Very recently, Australia & England Ashes warmth got a new shape and the Bairstow wicket case was the reason the cricketing world took two sides. But, the two nations would also come up with their own plan in hand and the world would be welcomed once more in India, the mini world, a nation which has all the seasons simultaneously reigning in the 27 provinces altogether.
Still months time to go and I hope the coming world cup to bring more fun and sports entertainment to the fullest. Lot of expectations on the way to come and I have mine too. Whats your's? Lets keep the days pass soon and many more meet-up to come.