Bangladesh scored 320 for 6 in the first innings against Sri Lanka in the tri-nation series. The commentators' abode is right next to the press box of the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. Everyone has to use the same elevator to get down or up.
Innings break. Tall, as if doing regular gym. An ultra-smart man in a fashionable outfit with a fair complexion and a trimmed beard climbed into the elevator with the media. Khas said in Bengali, "Ki Mairata Maral Koo Polara!" Said in English, "Just Unbelievable!" Everyone laughed. Bengali is not wrong to speak English like water day after day. In particular, be happy if you can open your mind and say regional pull.
The man who is talked about so much is none other than Athar Ali Khan. The most popular commentator in Bangladesh. Bangladesh's best representative in the battle of words, former cricketer, cricket connoisseur. He is the father of 'Banglawash'.
From left is Tamim Iqbal, former coach Jamie Siddons. Sometimes Athar Ali Khan. Shakib Al Hasan on the right
And yes, he is a fighter at the same time. Called a stubborn warrior. Because at the time he started commenting, Bangladesh's success in world cricket was like Kalebhadra's. No one knows more than how many gossips, how many insults he feels he can fight with today's Bangladesh. In the pyramid of success, things that are not said or known are hidden in the coffin of the heart.
Cricketer Athar
Speaking of the eighties. In those days, the madness of playing in Dhaka city and all over Bangladesh was about football. Cricket was an elite sport. Boys who are very smart, educated, seem to come to cricket more. At least that's what it sounds like in the old days. Especially at that time there was a huge interest in cricket among the students of Dhaka University. Athar Ali Khan was one of those crazy students of Dhaka University. He started as a hobby. But that cricket became his livelihood in the end. He played for Bangladesh national team for 10 consecutive years.
Opening batsman with right-handed pace bowling. He was known as the 'Clean Heater' for all the great shots. The first ODI series in the history of Bangladesh could have come with his bat. He was bowled out for 72 in an innings against Pakistan in the 1998 Asia Cup. The third umpire gave the bowler the benefit of the doubt. Interestingly, the umpire was Bangladeshi!
When the cricketer was
He played 19 ODIs for the country before retiring from international cricket. Total runs 532. The highest innings of 72 runs. Half century three. He has 6 wickets in hand. He has played 29 ODIs and List A matches in domestic cricket. Received 9 wickets with 606 runs. Played 3 matches in first class. 48 runs, 1 wicket. Under him, Dhaka University won the national cricket title in the 1984-85 season.
Athar witnessed Bangladesh's first ODI victory. Not only that, he is also one of the heroes of victory. He made a partnership of 136 runs with Mohammad Rafique against Kenya in 1996. Bangladesh got an innings of 48 runs with his bat. Another of Athar's innings was at Eden Gardens. He played a dazzling 6-run unbeaten innings against Sri Lanka in Kolkata.
Athar with Mashrafe and Mushfiqur in BPL;
There is no way to understand Athar's cricketing success by looking at these small figures. However, those who have watched it closely know that Bangladesh cricket is in today's position because of the fight of the Athars. Today, when corporate companies are scrambling to pay crores of rupees in sponsorship to cricket, the days of the Athars were just as difficult. That memory was not forgotten by the veteran cricketers, organizers and supporters of Bangladesh, nor by the international opponents of Athar. Rather remembered with respect.
This is the story of the day. Hosts Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India are playing in the Nidahas Trophy in Sri Lanka. In an interview there, former Sri Lankan leg-spinner, bowling all-rounder Upul Chandana commented on the current state of Bangladesh cricket, saying, "Bangladesh cricket is reaping the fruits of the labor of their predecessors."
Athar Ali Khan was one of the 'workers' of that labor. Upul said, “Athar, Akram Khan, Bulbuls worked hard at that time and brought Bangladesh cricket to where it is today. They have played cricket with great difficulty and the results are now available. Bangladesh is going through a better system now, it is always getting better. ”
Commentator Athar Ali Khan
After retiring from cricket, he stayed with cricket. The commentator went to the forest. Although he is a Bangladeshi, he speaks almost English. He capitalized on that English. With it came the ability to analyze cricket and talk. From then on, from international cricketers to international commentators.
Athar Ali Khan with legends.
But here that fight too! It is natural that the cricketers of the country will play well, the commentators of that country will be in a good position. When Athar Ali started, the situation in Bangladesh was very fragile in the field of international cricket. Athar lost one match after another, and Athar had to share the shame of Huawei sitting in the small commentary room of those four walls. Fellow commentators have repeatedly had to wear garlands of insults, insults and insults.
Even then this man did not stop. Like cricketers, the ground is biting every time. When Bangladesh won, Athar also won in the commentary room. When Bangladesh is being humiliated, he has continued to fight for equal words. There are many incidents about this. But one of Athar's battles was the historic 2003 Multan Test.

The Ultra Smart Athar;
Rashid Latif, the then Pakistani wicket-keeper, caught Alok Kapali with a catch dive in that match. But the catch fell to the ground. The umpire did not notice. The umpire gave out the ball when he made a strong appeal with the gloves hidden. The help of the third umpire was not sought in that out.
Athar sat in the commentary room and shouted, "I don't think it was a clear catch." "Are you (Pakistani cricket team) claiming to be cheaters?" Said Ramiz Raja, a Pakistani commentator sitting on the north side. Athar immediately said, "No, I just want to see if the decision to get out was right." "Typical Bangladeshi comment," Ramiz Raja stabbed. Athar replied, "And it's typically dismissive Pakistani comment." The comments made by the two caused a storm in the media. Rashid Latif was later banned for five matches as punishment.
Fight for Bangladesh. His participation on the home field is guaranteed. If Bangladesh has a game in a foreign tour, it also has a place there. But Athar does not always get a chance in all the big tournaments of ICC. They do not hurt him less. Even then he sat at home and broke his throat as a supporter.
When Bangladesh returned to the quarter-finals of the 2015 ODI World Cup after suffering an 'injustice' against India, all the supporters of the country fell against India. But the discussion on the achievements of those who were victims of injustice seemed to have faltered. Athar said at the time, "Whatever the outcome, you are the winner. I will come to the airport with red roses. ”
Smiling Athar Ali Khan;
Honestly, Bangladesh appeared at the airport on the day of its return to Dhaka. Mashrafe congratulated Murtaza with a red rose in his hand. He hugged each cricketer separately that day. The whole airport saw a crazy supporter that day. To the supporters of Bangladesh cricket.
Athar Ali Khan is the inventor of the word 'Banglawash' which is now in the mouths of cricket fans. He made this word while sitting in the commentary room. In an interview, Athar described the incident as follows: “The incident of 2010. October 18. Kyle Mills, the last member of the Black Caps, was bowled by Rubel Hossain in the last match of the five-match ODI series against New Zealand at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. Bangladesh won by 3 runs. I am commenting then. "This is whitewash," said New Zealand's Danny Morrison from the side. I said, "This is Banglawash."
Athar said Morrison did not understand the word at the time. Then I explained. That is the first word to be used. He said, “Even then I did not think the word Banglawash would get so much popularity. I didn't think of anything, I just said it came to my mind. ”
'Banglawash' is still going on since then. Athar wishes that these Tigers would one day taste Banglawash against all cricketing nations. Still waiting for that. In pursuit of livelihood, in pursuit of the country, in pursuit of love of cricket. Become a warrior.