India vs Bangladesh: For fiercely loyal Bangladeshi fans, cricket an escape from turmoil back home

CHENNAI: Amid the 10,400-odd fans who turned up for the first day's play at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday, there were a handful of supporters cheering the Bangladesh team.

While they were vastly outnumbered by the Indian faithful, the Bangladeshis generated a loud noise by screaming their lungs out every time their team produced a positive piece of play. Even when India fought back in the third and final session, they did not stop backing their side with vociferous chants.

For them, watching the national team play, whether live or on a screen, is an "escape from reality", considering the tough times and political tension the country has faced recently.

"Our country has been in turmoil for some time now, but the recent good show of the Bangladesh cricket team has given the people a lot of happiness. Our joy knew no bounds after we defeated Pakistan at their home (referring to the 2-0 Test series triumph)," a fan known only as 'Tiger Robi' said.

Robi, who has also travelled to New Zealand, Sri Lanka and the UAE to follow the Bangladesh cricketers, hails from Khulna and was joined by a group of four. The quartet of Moniruzzaman, Mahfuzul Haque, Nasir and Jamal Hossain — all natives of Dhaka — has been staying in Chennai for the past six months for medical treatment-related purposes.

"Although we were not directly affected by the situation back home, Bangladesh cricket has positively impacted our lives. It has affected us in an emotional way. It is like an escape from reality," Moniruzzaman, sporting a Bangladesh limited-overs jersey, said, adding: "We now think in a positive way when we take on big teams like India."


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