“It was a time when, in our hearts, we actually wanted to lose the toss so that we could escape the wrath of the supporters if we ultimately lost the match,” recounted former national batsman Minhajul Abedin fondly. He was the quintessence of the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League not only for his performances but also for his involvement in the drama that seemed to unfold every season, and yesterday he took a trip down memory lane while talking about the excitement, drama and suspense that once characterised the country's premier 50-over competition.

“It's simply impossible to forget those golden days when for the cricketers in the country the ultimate target was to perform in the Dhaka Premier Cricket League and play for the biggest club in the league. You know, we spent sleepless nights ahead of any crucial game in those days. Tension was all around the league from the players' transfers to the end of the league.

“The pressure from the supporters and club officials was such that this generation of cricketers simply can't imagine. Supporters threw stones and abused the players for a loss and on the other hand we got royal receptions from them [after victories]. I can still remember we needed three hours to reach Shapla Chattar from Bangabandhu National Stadium as the supporters welcomed us at the streets after my club Mohammedan Sporting Club won the match against bitter rivals Abahani in the 90s,” Minhajul became nostalgic and added that there were countless such instances in the 1980s and 1990s.

Those sweet memories always come back to Minhajul, popularly known by his nickname Nannu, before the start of the league. But those days are gone. “In our day cricket fans were waiting for this competition. Undoubtedly this is not the case now,” said one of the finest batsmen produced by the country.  When this season's league commences today, the presence of the national cricketers will definitely create interest among cricket lovers but one cannot expect the frenzy of old.

Minhajul indentified a few things behind the lack of enthusiasm surrounding the league nowadays. “Yes, international cricket and our success in the international circuit has played a role, but the league's lustre was lost because it shifted to Mirpur from the more popular Bangabandhu National Stadium, where old-town residents as well as Motijheel office workers regularly filled up the seats. Suddenly we also took the league matches outside Dhaka and disrupted the calendar. November-December is the best season for the league. All these things combined played the role behind the fall of interest,” explained Minhajul.

Still he believes that the Dhaka Premier League is the backbone of Bangladesh cricket. “I think it's still an important tournament. The highest number of cricketers is taking part in this league and they earn money from here. It does still generate huge interest if it is well-planned.”

“Club cricket is totally different from any other competition in the country and even from international cricket. Those days might be gone but still there is pressure in league cricket so a player can learn from here about playing under pressure,” ended the former national skipper turned selector.