School cricket shaped my journey, says Hridoy

Bangladesh batter Towhid Hridoy has called for better scheduling and wider opportunities in school cricket, saying that the platform remains crucial for producing future national players. 

"To be honest, whenever I talk about school cricket, I become a bit emotional. My journey in cricket started from here," said Hridoy, who studied at Bogura Police Lines School, at the jersey unveiling event of this year’s school cricket.

He recalled the challenges and excitement of playing at that level, where limited resources did little to dampen enthusiasm.

"We used to share the same bat and helmet, rushing to go out and bat. We didn’t have much equipment like we do at higher levels. Sometimes players had to use their personal gear. But even within those limitations, there was a lot of enjoyment and excitement," he noted.

Hridoy, who played school cricket for four years, said the tournament continues to be a vital pathway for young cricketers.

"I feel school cricket is a platform from where many players have emerged, and many more will come in the future," he stated, adding that his Bogura Police Lines team won the national title once during his time.

However, he raised concerns over scheduling, particularly matches being affected by rain.

"If I’m not mistaken, in recent years, some matches were decided by toss due to rain. I would request that the tournament not be held during the rainy season. If scheduled earlier, players would get to play full matches," he urged.

Hridoy said that his own school had progressed through multiple rounds via toss decisions, calling it "unfortunate" for players missing out on proper match experience.

"I want every player to get enough opportunities and to play in good venues. Those who get chances here should make the most of them and move forward," he added.

Reflecting on his early days, Hridoy recalled that he started playing school cricket from class six, even before entering the structured age-level system.

He also pointed out the continued emergence of talent from Bogura, saying that several players from his school have made it into age-group setups.

Looking back at his own achievements, Hridoy downplayed individual milestones, instead emphasising team success.

"Rather than my best innings, I think what matters is what the team achieves. During the four years I played, my school became champions three times," he said. "With so many schools participating, becoming national champions is not easy. That shows how competitive and strong this tournament is."

Hridoy expressed hope that the tournament would continue to grow and provide a stronger platform for aspiring cricketers across the country.