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Should we honour or pamper the cricket heroes ?

October 24, 2010 00:00:00


In the Prime Minister's reception for the triumphant cricketers, it was declared that each member of the national team would be given a plot of land and a car in Dhaka. They were also promised lavish benefits on retirement.
This writer of the letter is no less happy than any other in Bangladeshi for the magnificient accomplishment of our national side against New Zealand. But could not the expression of satisfaction be more proportionate to the feat ? Whitewashing New Zealand is not winning the World Cup or its near equivalent. It could be indicated that if our cricketers do just as well in the imminent World Cup as they have done against New Zealand, then they could expect such awards like cars and plots of lands. Perhaps that would work as a great motivator for them to win the World Cup or come close to the feat. So, the showering of the highest rewards may have been somewhat premature. Now that they have got everything they aspired and more, the cricketers may calculate that it does not matter if they do well in the World Cup or not.
Besides, there is also another aspect to it. Many people in this poor country toil exceptionally and ceaselessly in their professions and perform brilliantly also. But their silent and non glamorous contributions to the economy or our well-being, go unrecognized or unnoticed. Considering all of these things and more, the outpouring of handsome rewards for the cricketers could be somewhat scaled down or extended in a graduated manner.
It all looked like too much extravaganza at the PM's office on too few when there are millions waiting to be helped and recognized for their ceaseless invaluable contribution to the nation.
Please do not misunderstand this scribe as the envious one.
A Z M Obayadullah
Sharmilla Cottage
Gulshan II, Dhaka

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