BCB's wrong-footed bowler - A sculpture that sums up the state of cricket in Bangladesh

The Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, widely known as the 'Home of Cricket,' stands as the centrepiece of Bangladesh's cricketing endeavours. 

Aptly named, this stadium is not only the primary hub for the nation's cricketing affairs but also serves as the epicentre where all major decisions of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) are taken.

The BCB headquarters are housed within the stadium, requiring cricket administrators to visit daily. Most of Bangladesh's training camps and matches are held here, including significant tournaments like the 2014 ICC T20 World Cup and the 2016 ICC U19 Cricket World Cup. 

The stadium also hosted several games during the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. Domestically, the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) heavily relies on this venue for its matches.

Despite its significance, an oddity stands within the stadium grounds—a flawed sculpture of a bowler. 

Positioned to the right as you enter through Gate No. 2, the statue portrays a bowler mid-delivery, but the bowling action is incorrect. Known in cricketing terms as a "wrong-footed delivery," the bowler's action shows their right foot in front while delivering with the right hand—a posture physically impossible for maintaining balance.

While noticed during its construction in 2011, the issue was dismissed, and the sculpture was erected with the justification, "It can happen."

The depiction might remind fans of cricketers like Lance Cairns, Mike Procter, Sohail Tanvir, or even Virat Kohli, but a closer look reveals these players weren't wrong-footed bowlers. 

Their bowling actions may have been unorthodox, but they adhered to the principles of balance and biomechanics. The Mirpur statue, however, defies both cricketing and scientific logic.

In cricket, a wrong-footed delivery usually refers to a bowler whose trailing leg finishes ahead of the leading leg. 

However, the sculpture shows a bowler delivering the ball with their right foot unnaturally positioned forward—an impossible feat for any right-handed bowler. The same principle applies to left-arm bowlers as well.

The statue, created ahead of the 2011 World Cup, sparked laughter and criticism at the time. Journalists frequently discussed its absurdity, but over the years, the statue has become a mundane sight, blending into the surroundings and losing its initial impact.

Engineer Masudur Rahman Khan, responsible for most of the stadium's design, oversaw the project. 

However, the statue itself was designed by the late sculptor Mrinal Haque. Initially, Masudur claimed to have designed the statue but later clarified, "The artist made a slight mistake. At the time, everyone said it was fine and approved it."

The National Sports Council (NSC), which owns the stadium, must approve any additions or modifications to the site. 

Speaking to The Business Standard, NSC Secretary Aminul Islam laughed upon hearing about the sculpture. Acknowledging the issue, he said, "This is certainly noticeable. I'll raise this with the BCB. It's hard to argue against something so evident."

BCB CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury, in contrast, was reluctant to comment. 

Asked whether he had ever considered replacing the flawed structure, he responded, "I can't comment on this now. It was built in 2011, and I'm not sure if commenting on it now would be appropriate. Experts' opinions might be more valuable here."

A former cricketer, speaking on condition of anonymity, remarked, "Every project reflects the mindset and planning of those who execute it. While this isn't a major issue, it's inappropriate for the headquarters of cricket in Bangladesh to have such a flawed structure. Visiting teams may find it amusing, but leaving it as it is for so long is a bigger mistake. Replacing it wouldn't be too difficult."

Following a political shake-up in August, several changes have been implemented in the BCB, including the restructuring of its board. 

Mirpur Stadium itself is undergoing renovations, with many facilities being rebuilt. However, there has been no directive to replace or modify the sculpture, according to an army official overseeing the renovations.

For now, the flawed bowling sculpture remains, a curious and enduring blemish at the heart of Bangladesh cricket