BOTH sides wear green playing kits although the Bangladesh jersey’s collars and sleeves are red just like the red disk in the middle of their green flag that signifies the rising sun and also, as the people of that country gaining independence in 1971 believe, is in remembrance of the blood of those who lost lives for Bangladesh’s independence.

The wounds may be deep and may take more time to heal but what do the Bangladesh women’s cricket team, comprising teenage and 20-something players, know about what happened 44 years ago?

“Paani, have some paani. Take little sips if not thirsty but take continuously,” advises Suraya Akhtar, physiotherapist of the Bangladeshi squad on a 10-day tour to Pakistan for two Twenty20 and two One-Day International matches at the Southend Club here. Having lost the T20 series to Pakistan women 0-2, the guests worked hard during net practice on the rest days as the Pakistan side chilled.

“What do you call water in Bangla?” I ask the physio in Urdu. “We call it paani,” she laughs while offering me a bottle. “You speak good Urdu,” I compliment her and she shakes her head. “I don’t know any Urdu,” she says in English this time. “But I just spoke to you in Urdu and you replied in the same language,” I remind her. “Oh,” Suraya laughs, “I know Hindi, a little bit though,” she explains.

Changing the subject of our conversation to the weather, I ask how the weather is in Bangladesh this time of the year. “It is as hot there in October but worse maybe because it is hot as well as humid there,” she says, while urging me to have a sip of water.

Fargana Hoque Pinky, one of their batswomen, steps out of the nets to tie her shoelaces in the shade. It’s the first time all the girls in the Bangladesh team have come to Pakistan. “It is nice here,” she says. Asked if anyone in her family — parents or grandparents — have ever come this side when they were East Pakistan and we West, she smiles and shakes her head. “My parents have travelled much but to India and other countries mostly,” she says.

In clear Urdu, team captain Salma Khatun says they would like to go out and see Karachi and do some shopping, but the authorities here have been extremely cautious regarding security, so other than visiting Governor House they have stayed at the club mostly.

But to facilitate them, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) brought the market to them at the club. And the girls loved the handicrafts and dresses. Some even bought abayas in heavy zari work on the sleeves and front in different colours including green and purple to take back as gifts for their relatives back home, says Shagufta Kazmi, PCB’s liaison officer. “We also had an idea of their preferences in food so we made sure to keep fish curry and plain rice on the menu always but on their first day, they requested aloo paratha, which we arranged at once. We want them to be happy and take good memories about Pakistan back home,” she adds.

It may be the first time for the players but their manager, Mohammad Shafique Ul Huque, or Heera as he is popularly known as, cherishes good memories of this side and then also not so good memories, which he prefers not to dwell on. “I spent my youth here. I was 12 when I first came here in 1957. I studied at Cadet College, Sargodha, and then later at the Government College, Lahore,” he recalls. “I played cricket for the East Pakistan team from 1965 till 1970 and was vice captain under captain Nasim ul Ghani,” he says. “Before bringing the women team here, I brought the Bangladesh men’s team for a T20 and ODI series played in Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Lyallpur [Faisalabad] in 2008.”

“Do you still have restaurants offering fresh fish near your beautiful beaches?” he asks. “I wish I could take my team there. Before coming here they had plenty of questions about what to expect and about what you ate and how you dressed. I told them it is good to stay covered as far as clothing is concerned, which was no problem as our girls dress conservatively as well, and the food I told them will be pretty much the same as back home,” he says.

“I am also used to your tea. I was a tester for Lipton here when trade from Bangladesh was stopped. I had joined the company in Chittagong in 1970 but was transferred here a year later along with a nice raise, which I didn’t want to refuse. Those were tense days but I was a civilian. After independence I was stuck here until I found a passage through Afghanistan in 1973,” he says before becoming quiet for a while. “I have daughters like you,” he says bringing out his phone to share a photo of three very pretty daughters.

Soon it was time for unveiling the ODI trophy on Saturday. The players move to the hall along with their managers to face the rest of the media. Pakistan team captain Sana Mir says there is a feeling of sisterhood among the players of both teams. “When we tour Bangladesh, the cricket authorities there take very good care of us, and now it is our turn to facilitate them.” Meanwhile, when the questions were put to the Bangladesh team captain, Salma, who was speaking Urdu during practice earlier, replied only in Bangla with their manager translating for her.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2015

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