Would the Bangladesh team be much stronger if West Bengal was part of their country?

[Giannis]

The Bengali nation is divided by a colonial border, I was wondering if Bangladesh would have a much stronger cricket team if they had access to the talent pool and stadiums that are present in the more developed part of Bengal that fell to India? One of the biggest stadiums in the world is in Calcutta, if Bangladesh had access to that infrastructure would they have been a much better side and maybe would've gained test status earlier?

 

[Forward Defensive Push]

If I’m not wrong Bangladesh got and still is the more developed part of Bengal. They have an excellent port city in Chittagong and Dhaka is no lesser than Calcutta economically. But I get the general idea. Imagine someone like Ganguly playing for Bangladesh and transforming their cricket two decades back!

 

[Giannis]

If I’m not wrong Bangladesh got and still is the more developed part of Bengal. They have an excellent port city in Chittagong and Dhaka is no lesser than Calcutta economically. But I get the general idea. Imagine someone like Ganguly playing for Bangladesh and transforming their cricket two decades back!

Yeah they've caught up and have surpassed the Indian Bengal but historically West Bengal was the wealthier region as it was patronized by the British which is why Eden Gardens was the hub of Indian cricket for awhile.

 

[ElRaja]

not particularly, a greater bengal would not be an amalgamation of the sum of its current parts, west bengal would have followed a much different growth trajectory if it was controlled first by east pakistan, then the muslim majority regions of bangladesh.

it would be a very interesting counter history to imagine how the subcontinent would have developed if both punjab and bengal were ceded in totality to pakistan, but its probably too complex a topic to delve into without significant historical research.

 

[Giannis]

not particularly, a greater bengal would not be an amalgamation of the sum of its current parts, west bengal would have followed a much different growth trajectory if it was controlled first by east pakistan, then the muslim majority regions of bangladesh.

it would be a very interesting counter history to imagine how the subcontinent would have developed if both punjab and bengal were ceded in totality to pakistan, but its probably too complex a topic to delve into without significant historical research.

True one could argue the Eastern Bengal would have never reached its current state if wealth and growth was concentrated in Calcutta but I still think they would have a much better cricket team and probably would've gained test status in the 50s and probably would've won a world cup before Sri Lanka.

 

[gani999]

If I’m not wrong Bangladesh got and still is the more developed part of Bengal. They have an excellent port city in Chittagong and Dhaka is no lesser than Calcutta economically. But I get the general idea. Imagine someone like Ganguly playing for Bangladesh and transforming their cricket two decades back!

Ganguly became what he did because he was a part of the Indian system. He owes his rise to the popularity and the investment in the sport in India, and not the other way around.

 

[sweep_shot]

On paper, they might have been stronger because there would have been more players to choose from.

However, there was a reason why West Bengal and Bangladesh decided not to be together. The reason was obviously religion.

I feel we might have seen discriminatory quota systems in cricket if West Bengal and Bangladesh were together.

 

[ElRaja]

True one could argue the Eastern Bengal would have never reached its current state if wealth and growth was concentrated in Calcutta but I still think they would have a much better cricket team and probably would've gained test status in the 50s and probably would've won a world cup before Sri Lanka.

maybe its my own ignorance but i can think of only ganguly, tamim, shakib and arguably mushfiq and saha as test quality bengali players.

i always thought if anything western bengal, given its sporting and cultural legacies was conspicuous by its absence from representation in the indian test team for decades, ganguly notwithstanding.

 

[Charmander]

On paper, they might have been stronger because there would have been more players to choose from.

However, there was a reason why West Bengal and Bangladesh decided not to be together. The reason was obviously religion.

I feel we might have seen discriminatory quota systems in cricket if West Bengal and Bangladesh were together.

It is ridiculous to think there would be a quota system when neither India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh have one today.

 

[Giannis]

maybe its my own ignorance but i can think of only ganguly, tamim, shakib and arguably mushfiq and saha as test quality bengali players.

i always thought if anything western bengal, given its sporting and cultural legacies was conspicuous by its absence from representation in the indian test team for decades, ganguly notwithstanding.

I wasn't aware of the lack of Bengali representation in the Indian cricket team despite them being the 2nd largest ethnicity in India. Maybe it's cause they North Indians dominated Indian cricket but a Unified Bangladesh team would probably be much stronger than it is right now. I don't watch the IPL but if I'm not wrong KKR has been one of the most successful teams?

 

[Giannis]

Ganguly became what he did because he was a part of the Indian system. He owes his rise to the popularity and the investment in the sport in India, and not the other way around.

But West Bengal has a strong cricket and soccer legacy and a system that was developed under the British so I think he would've turned out the same and the Bangladeshi cricket team would've been more competitive if they had access to all those systems and infrastructure they didn't inherit.

 

[Charmander]

How many quality cricketers has west bengal produced other than Ganguly? I don't think there is any active today. Only bengali players that can be considered great is ganguly and shakib. Maybe a united bengal team has deeper bench and better than the bangla team is now, but would still be lingering in the 7th-9th place range.

 

[Charmander]

I wasn't aware of the lack of Bengali representation in the Indian cricket team despite them being the 2nd largest ethnicity in India. Maybe it's cause they North Indians dominated Indian cricket but a Unified Bangladesh team would probably be much stronger than it is right now. I don't watch the IPL but if I'm not wrong KKR has been one of the most successful teams?

franchise cricket isn't restricted to local talent pool so irrelevant. How has bengal fared in ranji trophy?

 

[Unbiased-Fan]

The present combined team of Bangladesh and West Bengal would still be an ordinary one but inclusion of Mohammed Shami would make their bowling significantly stronger.
Other players from West Bengal like Easwaran, Saha, Goswami, Porel can be easily part of current Bangladeshi side..

1.Tamim
2.Easwaran
3.Mominul
4.Shakib
5.Rahim
6.Liton
7.Saha (w)
8.Mehedi
9.Taijul
10.Shami
11.Mustafizur

 

[sweep_shot]

The present combined team of Bangladesh and West Bengal would still be an ordinary one but inclusion of Mohammed Shami would make their bowling significantly stronger.
Other players from West Bengal like Easwaran, Saha, Goswami, Porel can be easily part of current Bangladeshi side..

1.Tamim
2.Easwaran
3.Mominul
4.Shakib
5.Rahim
6.Liton
7.Saha (w)
8.Mehedi
9.Taijul
10.Shami
11.Mustafizur

Is Shami a Bengali? I didn't know.

 

[Unbiased-Fan]

Is Shami a Bengali? I didn't know.

He plays for West Bengal domestically.

 

[Unbiased-Fan]

But he originally from Amroha, Uttar Pradesh.

 

[Giannis]

He plays for West Bengal domestically.

I don't think he would be in a Bangladesh team because if the Bengals were one country then it's unlikely he would've moved there.

 

[street cricketer]

"Would the Pakistani team be much stronger if it was a part of India?"

 

[Giannis]

"Would the Pakistani team be much stronger if it was a part of India?"

No cause there wouldn't be a Pakistan team if that happened but a Bangladesh team would still exist if West Bengal merged with them.

 

[street cricketer]

No cause there wouldn't be a Pakistan team if that happened but a Bangladesh team would still exist if West Bengal merged with them.

It doesn't matter because talking about West Bengal joining Bangladesh is a bit like talking about Pakistan joining India and undoing the partition. Sure, Bangladesh would get the advantage in cricket and would no longer be a minnow, but what would be the incentive for West Bengal to do so?

The partition happened for a reason and I'm not sure why either Pakistan or West Bengal or even Bangladesh for that matter would want to undo the partition because of some hypothetical advantages in a colonial era sport. If anything, football has generally been more popular than cricket in Bengal anyway (or the other eastern parts like the north east).

 

[Golden arm]

On paper, they might have been stronger because there would have been more players to choose from.

However, there was a reason why West Bengal and Bangladesh decided not to be together. The reason was obviously religion.

I feel we might have seen discriminatory quota systems in cricket if West Bengal and Bangladesh were together.

On surface it seemed religion but actually there were more reasons. Ultimately economics is the biggest religion on earth. East bengal felt controlled by West bengal and there was lack of economic progress.
Devolution of power is the key for progress as demonstrated in the best democracies like Swizerland.

Subcontinent was never meant to be one country and most part of history has been combination of princely states and kingdoms reason for its wealth and probably also lack of stronger army to counter British colonial system.

 

[Maliq_Mudasir]

Is Shami a Bengali? I didn't know.

Shami is from UP

 

[Maliq_Mudasir]

"Would the Pakistani team be much stronger if it was a part of India?"

Imagine Virat and Babar playing together had India been part of Pakistan. Delight to sports loving people.

 

[street cricketer]

Imagine Virat and Babar playing together had India been part of Pakistan. Delight to sports loving people.

Still it's not too late. Mohan Bhagwat is already calling for undoing the partition these days. You could support Mr.Bhagwat in his quest to reverse the partition and make Pakistan a part of India

 

[sweep_shot]

Shami is from UP

He plays for West Bengal domestically.

But he originally from Amroha, Uttar Pradesh.

Yeah.

In that case, I doubt he would've qualified to play for United Bengal (since he is not from Bengal).

 

[street cricketer]

On paper, they might have been stronger because there would have been more players to choose from.

However, there was a reason why West Bengal and Bangladesh decided not to be together. The reason was obviously religion.

I feel we might have seen discriminatory quota systems in cricket if West Bengal and Bangladesh were together.

Didn't realise there were discriminatory quota systems in place in Bangladesh cricket. Perhaps that's what is hampering them.

 

[JaDed]

Nope but BD will show much more improvement if its added to Indian domestics as a team.

 

[sweep_shot]

Didn't realise there were discriminatory quota systems in place in Bangladesh cricket. Perhaps that's what is hampering them.

There is no official quota system in Bangladesh cricket.

But, if West Bengal and Bangladesh were united, you would've had something like 50% Hindus and 50% Muslims. I feel it could've resulted in quota system in many areas (including cricket).

 

[Justcrazy]

Yes, a bit stronger, but West Bengal has not produced too many big players.

Very few of them

 

[Varun]

Nah, Bangladesh are beyond any hope.

They would have dragged West Bengal down to their level.

 

[boomboomcheema]

Even the Indian Bengal hasn't produced any Quality Cricketers except Ganguly. I think Bangladesh is the more developed Cricket part of Bengal and a Bangladeshi Cricket side would easily defeat West Bengal 11.

 

[Mainul]

I don't think that West Bengal would have got a Saurav Ganguly which we know had we got west Bengal with us.

The cricket culture would have been quite different. Cricket would have been run by Dhaka instead Delhi or Mumbai. Mr Pappon would have been the president.Oh no. May Sourav's life would have been quiet different.

Bangladesh as a whole would have become a stronger nation both economically and in sport, no doubt. And I think Bangladesh would have been a very strong Indian neighbor had we got both Asam and Bengal.

 

[Mamoon]

Imagine Virat and Babar playing together had India been part of Pakistan. Delight to sports loving people.

Rohit is better than Babar and sports loving people have been Kohli and Rohit bat together, so they haven’t missed out on anything.

 

[NishanKonar]

People are forgetting Muslims demanded partition of Bengal in 1905 well before Muslim League demanded partition of India. The cancellation of that division led to the foundation of Muslim League

A United Bengal wud have been highly unstable - a wealthy Hindu minority controlling wealth and land and large Muslim minority comprising mostly peasants and labourers. It wud have been like Tamil - Sinhala conflict but on a much larger scale