What once was a sporting hub

This sandy and rocky field, one of the few surviving playing surfaces in an otherwise concrete jungle, is the famous Dhupkhola Maidan (ground) in the old part of Dhaka. The ground, which played host to big construction materials for the now completed Mayor Hanif flyover in the last five years, has recently been freed for local kids to play in again. But the custodian of the ground – Dhaka South City Corporation – has so far done little to bring back its original look. The picture of the field was taken on Tuesday, 10th November 2015. The day has a special meaning in our sporting history – a day Bangladesh played their inaugural Test against India at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in 2000. One might be curious to know what Dhupkhola has to do with Bangladesh's historic Test. The nondescript ground like many others across the country has certainly played a small yet significant role in that historic Test where one Aminul Islam Bulbul scored a magnificent 145 and a wily left-arm spinner Mohammed Rafique claimed three wickets. And both Aminul and Rafique's humble journey to fulfill a Test dream started at this nondescript Dhupkhola ground. We feel it would be wise for authorities concerned to make the ground playable again so that the next generation can chase their sporting dreams.