In Khulna’s Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium, echoes of the last international cricket match have faded, leaving local sports fans yearning.
Despite its revered status as a Test venue and a host of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium stands ensnared in neglect.
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The once-vibrant stadium has steadily deteriorated. With approximately 10,000 gallery seats, over half are now in ruins due to negligence. The media box, electronic scoreboard, pavilion building, and side screen are all nearly non-functional.
While a domestic league took place last year, this year, the stadium remained dormant with Mustafizur Rahman Russell, the venue in-charge, emphasizing routine maintenance efforts such as mowing the field, planting grass, and maintaining the pitch.
Khulna's significant contribution to the Bangladesh national cricket team, boasting cricketers like Habibul Bashar, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Shakib Al Hasan, and others from the Khulna Division, only highlights the glaring absence of international matches at the home ground of these stars.
Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium, situated in Muzgunni area next to Khulna-Jashore road, was inaugurated in 2004. The stadium's official journey began with several ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup matches held that year. Starting with a capacity of 15,000 spectators in 2004, it was expanded to 20,000 in 2012. The last Test match was played in 2015 against Pakistan.
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The stadium, once referred to as the "Lucky Venue" for hosting victorious matches, witnessed its last international cricket in 2016. Damaged in the cyclone of April 5, 2016, the stadium has seen no renovation in the seven years since, exacerbating its decline.
Mahian Shikder Arin, a 10th-grader, expressed the disappointment of a generation who, having attended a match in 2016, now longs to witness international cricket at the stadium.
Mahbubur Rahman Sifat, former captain of Khulna's under-18 cricket team, highlighted the absence of international matches since 2016 impacting the local cricket scene and its players' contributions to the national team.
Nazmus Sadat Sumon, president of Khulna's cricket organization Kapilmuni Krira Shikkha Prothishthan, expressed concerns over the waning interest in cricket due to the prolonged absence of international matches at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium.
Mustafizur Rahman Russell, the venue in-charge, acknowledged the gradual deterioration of media centers due to non-use. He assured that fieldwork would commence soon, with project engineers preparing a budget. While the tender process is underway, the restoration remains a work in progress.
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SM Mortaza Rashidi Dara, general secretary of Khulna Divisional Sports Association, acknowledged the stadium's current status and emphasized its use for various matches despite the absence of international games. Tenders for gallery renovation are pending approval, delayed by the pandemic and other factors.
Advocate Md. Babul Howladar, member secretary of Khulna Citizen Society, called attention to the neglect of Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium, a ground that produced many star cricketers. He urged immediate renovation and the resumption of international matches to revive Khulna's cricketing spirit.
Several cricket enthusiasts also advocated for hosting the BPL in Khulna, citing the city's newly established hotels. With the recent inauguration of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge, the travel time to Khulna has significantly decreased to only 3 to 3.5 hours from the capital city of Dhaka. This improvement offers fans a more convenient and efficient journey to Khulna for the BPL matches.