The many shades of Eid

The Bangladesh national cricket team members will enjoy the Eid vacation this year with their family members. In a time when cricketers remain extremely busy throughout the year with home or away tours and global events, getting to enjoy Eid festivities with near and dear ones are increasingly rare.

Even if at home, not in the midst of a gruelling series, Eid has changed its nature for cricketers, like most other professional sporting individuals.

Habibul Bashar, former captain of the national team and currently a selector, finds it extremely difficult celebrating Eid away from home, with no special food on the menu adding to his agony.

"Eid means spending time with family and friends, wearing new clothes and having all sorts of special food on that day. The celebration of Eid during the childhood days was different, but things have changed as we have grown older. I didn't get the opportunity to celebrate Eid when on tours abroad during my playing days. Same happens these days too, now that I'm a selector and often tour with the team," Bashar told The Daily Star.

However, the 49-year-old also shared a funny memory of Eid while touring with the Bangladesh team as a selector during the ICC World Cup campaign in 2019.

"It was during the 2019 World Cup in England and the team was supposed to offer Eid prayers. The media personnel were curious to know which mosque the team was going to go to, but we were reluctant to reveal that. Luckily there were four Eid jamaats taking place at four separate locations in London, and we bluffed the media successfully. It was like a hide and seek game, which we won in the end," Bashar recalled.

[Related read: Everyone becomes a cricket expert during Eid, where Bangladesh women's cricket team captain shares her Eid-related experience] 

While the times may have changed for everyone, but one thing that has remained the same for pacer Taskin Ahmed is collecting Eid salami.

"We all used to wait for the Eid days to get salami from the elders," Taskin said. "The festive mood and the joy of Eid is something very special to all of us. I am a father now yet I don't miss the opportunity to receive my Eid salami from my parents." Although Taskin is happy to be spending this Eid with his family and friends, the 27-year-old feels celebrating Eid away from home and with the members of the national team is not that bad either.

"Last Eid, we were in Zimbabwe and Mahmudullah Riyad bhai led us in the Eid prayers at our hotel. It is a different feeling celebrating Eid with teammates. My team is my second family and we all have fond memories of celebrating Eid away from home," Taskin, said. 

[Related read: Minds on duty, hearts left at home - archer Diya and weightlifter Mabia add to perspectives]  

Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam, on the other hand, revealed his fond memories of buying new clothes for Eid and also his love for shemai.

"Nowadays things have changed much compared to how we used to celebrate Eid in the past. I remember in my childhood days, I used to be fascinated by new clothes. I wouldn't show my new clothes to anyone and only revealed them on Eid day. I even used to change clothes almost every hour on that day. Remembering those days makes me laugh," Taijul said. "I love having shemai on Eid days and this is something I never miss, whether I am at home or abroad."

[Related read: My Eid starts soon after I reach home - based on footballer Jibon's side of things]