DHAKA, March 24, 2019 (BSS)- The zeal of the rivalry between Abahani
Limited and Mohammedan Sporting Club doesn’t climb to the fever pitch like
the heydays and the run-up to their tomorrow’s crucial Dhaka Premier League
(DPL) match at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium was marked by lack of
buzz.
But the battle between the two traditional clubs kept the players motivated
to rise on the occasion.
There is little interest around the match is a far cry from the frenzied
atmosphere that would mark such derby days before Bangladesh became a Test-
playing nation.
The match has drawn large crowds in the past but the advent of
international cricket since the 2000s has affected interest around it.
Even the practice session of the two teams has drawn huge crowd but now the
aura is past.
The absence of the spectators during the high voltage game is unfortunate,
said Abahani captain Mosaddek Hossain but he rather is keen to focus on the
game.
“The excitement is nowhere near now. Even in our childhood we saw a huge
crowd during the match between Abahani and Mohammedan. We are used to hear
the story how the country divided into two parts during the game,” Mosaddek
said.
“The gallery was used to be packed with Abahani and Mohammedan, both teams
occupying their own galleries. Now the gallery remains empty. In my playing
days during the match between those two sides, I have never seen packed
gallery,” he said.
“But we are professional cricketers. We can’t focus on the presence of the
spectators in the gallery, we only can focus on our cricket. We want a
competitive match so that people can enjoy. Hopefully we will show a good
performance.”