When Bangladesh’s cricket is going through difficult times, on the other hand the country made history by defeating India 1-0 in a long-awaited match, creating a new excitement around football in Bangladesh.That victory for Bangladesh against India and the progress of women’s football in the country seem to signal a revival.
“Our love is with football, but we are married to cricket…” these words by Asif Mahmud, a sports adviser, remain in many people’s minds. But in reality, is that how things truly are? Which sport do people actually prefer? And why? Was cricket always more popular than football in Bangladesh, or the other way around?
To answer these questions, we must first understand the origins and history of cricket and football in Bangladesh, and how they developed.
Origins & Early History in Bangladesh:
Both cricket and football were introduced to Bangladesh during British rule.
Cricket: The British East India Company introduced cricket in Bengal. In 1934, under British India, the Board of Control for Cricket in India started the Ranji Trophy competition. This made cricket popular across what was then Eastern and Western Pakistan. After the 1947 partition, cricket began to spread through schools, colleges, and clubs around Dhaka. Over time, cricket became especially popular among urban educated middle-class people and within colleges and universities.
In 1954, Pakistan (which Bangladesh was part of then) officially became eligible to play Test matches. Because of that, cricket gained state support and respect. Few players from East Pakistan (modern Bangladesh) also joined the national team, which increased the game’s popularity in East Pakistan.
Football: On the other hand, British traders, players, and soldiers played football and introduced it to the subcontinent. By the late 19th century, football started spreading in the area now known as India and Bangladesh, particularly between Kolkata (then Calcutta) and Dhaka. It is known that around 1905, football was already being played in Dhaka.
The support of local leaders also helped. The Sir Khaja Salimullah Khan, fourth Nawab of Dhaka, encouraged young people in the region to form clubs and play football, helping its popularity grow locally.
In 1948, the first Dhaka football league was formed, leading to growth in demand and participation in football.
Shifts Over Time: From Football to Cricket
Historical data suggests both sports arrived in Bangladesh roughly around the same period. However, from the early days through up to the 1960s, football held a stronger place among the public in Bangladesh. With time, the balance shifted. Several factors contributed to cricket’s rise over football:
Pakistan’s achievement in 1954 of international Test match status (including players from East Pakistan) meant cricket had more national support and structure. Meanwhile, football lacked similar achievement or support on the national or international stage during that period.
The Pakistan Football Federation faced instability, weak leadership, and organizational issues. Because of this, active participation in international football became difficult for East Pakistan. Over time, people’s interest leaned more toward cricket because football did not advance similarly.
Football also suffered from lack of proper infrastructure, corruption, and failure in management systems. This led to decline in its popularity compared to cricket.
Historical observers have noted regional differences: football was widely followed by the population in East Bengal (now Bangladesh), while in West Pakistan, cricket and hockey were more dominant.
Thus, even if the local people originally favored football, regional political structures and administrative decisions helped cricket gain prominence. This shift continued even after independence.
Post-Independence Scenario:
After Bangladesh achieved independence, cricket continued to become more popular. Successes, investments, and national support helped cricket maintain a strong position in people’s preferences.
Football, in contrast, suffered setbacks:
Mismanagement, corruption, lack of qualified coaching, and insufficient funding or incentives for players decreased the sport’s progress at institutional levels.
Over time, football in Bangladesh became weakly supported by authorities, and many believe this caused the public to lose interest in it.
Still, things are changing: Recently, football in Bangladesh has shown signs of revival. The national football team beating strong competitors, and talented players (including expatriates) contributing to the game, prove that if given equal opportunity and support, Bangladesh can succeed in football too.
Players like Jamil Bhuiyan and Hamza Chowdhury, who played abroad, show that when opportunity and support exist, Bangladeshi players perform well.
Which Sport Is Our Favorite?So what is the truth: is there a single favorite sport in Bangladesh cricket or football?
Historically, football was deeply loved. But due to institutional support and success, cricket became the more dominant sport over time.
Today, football is staging a comeback, showing that Bangladesh has potential in both games.
It is not fair to favor one sport over the other; both deserve equal attention, funding, and nurturing.
Bangladesh has talented players from rural to urban areas. What they need is opportunity and proper institutional backing to prove their ability.
Therefore, if someone asks: “Which sport do Bengalis love the most?” the answer is: both cricket and football have been loved at different times. At present, cricket keeps its strong fan base, but football is regaining popularity. We should not fight between cricket and football. Instead, we should aim to help both sports progress together. When that happens, Bangladesh can shine in both sports.
