Chittagong chaos and CMJ airlines
It's been another eventful week and in my latest World Cup diary we experience a mixture of excitement and chaos in Chittagong, before a journey to Chennai involving an unscheduled stop-over in Kolkata.
Thursday 9 March
I join Jonathan Agnew at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium for the usual pre-match interviews with the captains ahead of the Bangladesh v England on Friday. manages to look fairly calm even though he knows the hopes of millions of cricket-mad Bangladesh fans are resting on his shoulders.
Then it is our chance to quiz England captain Andrew Strauss. What all the journalists want to know is who is going to open the batting - Matt Prior, Ravi Bopara or Ian Bell - following and who is going to replace the injured Stuart Broad, but we all know Strauss is not going to reveal the answer to either question.
Aggers decides not to be too Jeremy Paxman-like and says to Strauss: "You're not going to tell me who's opening or coming in for Broad ... but I might as well hear you say it."
Friday 10 March
While leaving the hotel to go to the ground I get into a lift with Matt Prior. I casually ask him if he is 'going up to the top floor' or 'staying around the middle'. He gives me a wry smile, but reveals nothing about England's batting order.
Later, Prior does open the batting, but is soon probably wishing he hadn't bothered when he is dismissed in a bizarre stumping.
The game has been underway for around 45 minutes when I notice the commentary box next to us is empty. A few moments later the crew from Bangladesh radio arrive in a panic which only gets worse when they discover their box is locked.
England's World Cup hopes take a knock in Chittagong - photo: Getty.
It's a really busy day for me because as well as producing Test Match Special and looking after the technical side of the programme, I am also doing the updates on 5 live as regular reporter Alison Mitchell is commentating.
This role is made all the more difficult as the noise at the ground makes it almost impossible to hear when the 5 live presenter is linking to me and a couple of times I just launch into a report when I think I hear a gap.
It's also rather tricky because I can't actually see any scoreboards from my position - so there is more than a little guess work going on.
I am also keeping a close eye on events in Mohali where Ireland have a crucial match against the West Indies, to make sure we keep TMS listeners up to date with that game. as they make a more than decent attempt at a large victory target, but our game turns out to be yet another thriller.
I don't know if my nerves can take much more of watching England at this World Cup as the match swings one way and then the other. While Jonathan Trott and Eoin Morgan are together it looks like England will get a big score, but they lose late wickets.
Bangladesh make a great start chasing the target of 226 but after losing five quick wickets, the atmosphere among home supporters becomes unbelievably tense as Shafiul Islam and Mahmudullah share what turns out to be .
There are remarkable scenes when Mahmudullah hits Tim Bresnan for the winning runs. On the field, bats are thrown into the air and all the Bangladesh squad run on to congratulate their team-mates.
In the media centre, all we can hear is loud, continual screaming. I try to find out what is going on and discover the noise comes from a group of security guards and volunteers who have left their posts and are hugging each other and shouting at the tops of their voices in celebration.
Meanwhile, on the field Aggers notices the groundstaff have all joined hands and are running across the field in spontaneous celebration. It is amazing to see such an outpouring of emotion and we get a clear indication, as if we were in any doubt, of what cricket means to the people here.
Sadly, the day is soured by what happens to use later that evening. Firstly, as we are about to pack away all the equipment one of our team notices their bag has been tampered with and some items stolen, including credit cards and mobile phones.
A frantic search is made around the commentary box before we then go through the long process of reporting the theft to police officers at the ground. After packing away our equipment, the next task is to find the bus to take us back to our hotel.
Bangladesh fans celebrate their country's first World Cup win over England - photo: Reuters.
For some reason, our driver has not been allowed to meet us by the media centre so we have to drag our equipment around the ground towards a drop-off point. Even though the match finished over two hours ago, there is an enormous crowd outside the ground and we have no choice but to go through part of it to reach our bus.
At first it all appears fairly good natured as the Bangladesh fans are clearly overjoyed by their team's success, but what we don't realise is that they have been waiting patiently for the two sides to go past and are desperate to release their excitement somehow.
Unfortunately for the five members of the TMS team, we are completely surrounded within seconds and the mood starts to turn rather ugly.
A few months ago, I attended a training course in Gravesend on "Public Order Safety" where we literally took part in a riot with petrol bombs flying about and angry crowds massing around us. I remember thinking 'What on earth am I doing here when I work in such a gentle sport like cricket?'.
Suddenly, the skills I learnt on that course are needed as we all desperately try to stick together and find some safe ground, but this is harder said than done as we become further engulfed - and like being in a rolling maul during a rugby match we seem to lose control of our movements.
In the melee, various attempts are made to take items from us, with another mobile phone being stolen. But even worse, the two female members of our group are subjected to some very inappropriate behaviour by some members of the crowd.
As we desperately try to find safety, a group of armed officers begin a charge and hit random members of the crowd with sticks. It is one thing to see this from a distance as we had at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore a couple of weeks ago, but it is quite another to see it close-up.
The situation becomes frankly terrifying as we are forced to hold our bags in front of us for protection and scream out so we do not get hit. As the crowd disperses we manage to find a relatively safe place in the middle of the road and beg some army officers to stay with us. To be fair, they are extremely helpful and even manage to call our driver to explain exactly how to come and rescue us.
I have never been so pleased to get into a minibus, but the journey back to our hotel is not straightforward because traffic is at a standstill - and because the Bangladesh team are also staying at the same hotel there is another enormous crowd swarming around it.
We do not want to be exposed to this crowd again and we have to negotiate strongly with the police guarding the hotel to let us through. It is after 2.00am when we eventually get to our rooms, but it is impossible to sleep with cries of "Bangladesh, Bangladesh" outside for several hours.
I go down to reception and discover that the England team had been stuck in their dressing room at the ground until 2.30 and see Paul Collingwood arrive looking exhausted.
Saturday 11 March
The TMS team are clearly still shaken after the events of last night and it is a fairly quiet bus trip from our hotel to Chittagong airport ready for a mid-morning flight.
Because we will be travelling on a small plane to Kolkata to make a connection to Chennai, we arrive early at the airport to begin negotiations to get all our luggage on board. I have to admit morale is not high when the staff inform us that our plane is delayed "indefinitely" because of a technical problem.
Of course, it is not just the Test Match Special team who are frustrated. Also gathered at the airport are the crew putting together the ´óÏó´«Ã½ TV highlights, including presenter Rishi Persad, and the ESPN team with the likes of Sir Ian Botham and Michael Atherton.
With nothing much going on, an impromptu game of cricket begins by the check-in desks involving airport staff and passengers, with luggage piled up as stumps. I watch alongside Botham who is clearly unimpressed by the delay and says to me: "I'm not sure much is going to happen to sort this mess out - the bloke who's in charge is currently keeping wicket."
The fun is ended by a burly security guard who comes over and confiscates the cricket bat that is being used, which he tells us is potentially a "dangerous weapon". I go up to him and say: "Why don't you let me have a go? I'm English - after last night's match it's clear that in our hands a bat causes no danger at all."
There then follows a rumpus because the rumour spreads that there may be some seats available on the England team plane which is leaving shortly.
The next hour is fairly choatic as firstly we are told none of us are allowed on the plane as it is for players only. Then we are told that we will be allowed on the plane, but cannot take any luggage because it is full with team kit.
Botham told me earlier that he had heard that out of all the 14 teams at the World Cup, England were travelling with the most baggage. "At least we are top of one table at this World Cup," he says.
Then we are told that only some of us will be on the plane and who gets a seat depends on who has to get to Kolkata in time to cover a match. Finally, after starting to check our luggage in, we are informed that the plane is now full - with only the TMS team and a handful of journalists missing out!
We resign ourselves to having to wait for our original plane, which we are told is scheduled to leave five hours later, but next minute the news comes through that this plane has been cancelled and the only way to get to Kolkata is via Dhaka. At this point we abandon any hope of reaching our intended destination today and start making plans to complete the journey on Sunday.
When we finally get on a plane, I note that the name of the company sounds a little like CMJ, our gloriously shambolic Christopher Martin Jenkins. "It might as well be called CMJ airlines," I say "the plane is late and its not going to the place it's meant to be."
At Dhaka airport we rush off the plane as we have only a short time to get our connection to Kolkata and we have to clear international customs. There then follows a hilarious scene as each one of us, having gone through passport control, is ushered into a small room for an 'interview' but it turns out this is only a formality and we just make our Kolkata plane.
We reach our hotel at 9.00pm, having been travelling for 12 hours - less than one hour of which was actually spent in the air - and we are still nowhere near our final destination.
Sunday 12 March
I don't get a lot of sleep as my room is near those of the Ireland team, who are also staying at the hotel ahead of their match here on Tuesday. It is not the players who keep me awake, rather the phalanx of soldiers positioned in the corridor and spend most of the evening in loud conversation.
One of the positive sides of our detour is that I get to have a little look at Kolkata on the way to the airport - a city which I have never been to before and was really sad to miss out on when England's game against India was moved away from here.
I spot the outside of the imposing Eden Gardens ground and we also go past the majestic Victoria memorial and the famous Howrah Bridge spanning the Hooghly river.
We get too close to one of the traditional Kolkata yellow taxis, but neither our driver or the taxi man seems overly concerned by a small bump. Once at Kolkata airport we are just about to board our plane when a fire alarm sounds and we hear rumours that we will be evacuated.
Thankfully, this is a false alarm and we make our flight finally bound for Chennai ready to cover England's crucial match against the West Indies.
When we arrive, 36 hours after leaving Chitagong, Aggers works out that if we had got in an auto rickshaw, or "tuk tuk" as they are known, it would have taken the same amount of time to get here.
As I am about to go to bed, I get a text from Tim Peach, our producer in Nagpur, who has also had his logistical issues on this trip. You may remember I mentioned he had a bag go missing on the way from Dhaka to Colombo - well, he tells me the bag has been found and has been sent to Dhaka - where he left a week ago.
Monday 13 March
I meet a couple of England fans who are over here supporting the team. They tell me they understand there were 17 supporters in Chittagong for the match on Friday "but a few less by the end" they tell me. The couple are huge Gloucestershire fans and they tell me they love visiting the subcontinent to watch cricket.
They have a great story about a young Bangladesh fan, who apparently befriended a member of the called George when England toured here a year ago.
This fan was spotted outside the stadium at Chittagong before Friday's match with a banner around his neck, saying "Hello Barmy Army George - can I have a ticket for the game?" Sadly George had not made the trip, but some England supporters managed to get him inside.
They also told me about the strict behaviour of some ICC officials at some of the grounds where they had been watching England. Apparently they had been told to remove banners and flags because they were touching the side of an advertising board and one of their posters which mentioned the name of a small local energy company was confiscated because of the threat of "ambush marketing".
I fully understand the ICC have to protect their lucrative commercial deals, but you can't help but wonder whether spectators who spend a fortune to travel around the world to see these matches are given the respect they deserve.
Tuesday 14 March
During the afternoon I receive a letter under my door at the hotel marked 'On Her Majesty's Service'. Excitedly, I open the envelope wondering if my James Bond-like talents are finally going to be put to good use, but it turns out I have just been invited to the house of the Southern Indian Deputy High commissioner for a reception to celebrate the Queen's birthday.
While I work out if I have anything to wear for this event I get another text from Tim Peach who is now in Mumbai. "Good news, my bag has arrived - In Colombo. I hope it is collecting air miles."
Hello I'm Adam Mountford and I'm the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Cricket producer. My main
responsibility is to produce Test Match Special but I also look after our cricket coverage on other ´óÏó´«Ã½ outlets. My blog attempts to give you a flavour of life behind the scenes of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Cricket team. .
Comment number 1.
At 15th Mar 2011, Pam wrote:Despite all the travails of the TMS crew, including Tim Peach, you can be absolutely assured of how much we're all enjoying the coverage; the tweets are also greatly appreciated, they really add to the whole experience.
Thanks!
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Comment number 2.
At 15th Mar 2011, hainba wrote:Adam as much as we at home envy the life of the sports journalist the reality is quite as glamorous as we might think.
This blog has provided a good insight, sounds like Bangladesh might be a no go zone if they qualify from the group!
Keep up the good work & good luck!
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Comment number 3.
At 16th Mar 2011, Cricket Fan wrote:I apologize for any inconvenience that you may have experienced in Bangladesh and Chittagong. However, I am sad that you do not have the understanding of a crowd that is experiencing new heights in their country team’s history.
Have you not seen or heard of any British unruly crowd in Soccer World Cups? There are tons of examples where in other European countries the UK football fans are banned or kept under tight police control – and you complain about Bangladeshi fans? On top of that, you are saying that if Bangladesh goes to next round, it might be a no go? Wow! I am astounded by your mentality of old days. Sad week for UK – really.
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Comment number 4.
At 16th Mar 2011, big ripper wrote:Dear Cricket Fan (@3).
Please remove the chips from your shoulders and read what the highly entertaining article article actually says. I believe Mr Mountford was not complaining about the crowd trouble but was reporting on it. There is a big difference.
Yes, there is sometimes awful crowd trouble at football matches involving many European nations, and I guess the English fans have the worst reputation. I have no doubt that these events receive massive press coverage globally, as I believe they should. I also believe that the world is entitled to be kept informed of similar situations wherever they occur and at whatever sporting event, such as the bus stonings the other week and the thefts and sexual harassment reported here.
If such things were not reported then we would not get the opportunity to learn about how things are different (or in this case the same?) in different parts of the world.
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Comment number 5.
At 16th Mar 2011, R-Brooker wrote:Bit off the track this, but I was fascinated by the article on the Americas Division T20 comp. Not an indigenous name in sight, save in the case of the Falkland Islands. Is this just a way for ex-pats to reify their sunday league?
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Comment number 6.
At 16th Mar 2011, Adam Mountford - ´óÏó´«Ã½ Cricket Producer wrote:In answer to post 3 from "cricket fan"
Firstly nowhere in my article do I say that "if Bangladesh go through to the next round that it might be a no go". I have no idea where you got that impression from. We are very much looking forward to bringing you commentary on the two Dhaka quarter finals.
Secondly I am sure that we would have had just as bad an experience if we had been caught in a unruly football crowd or indeed other badly behaved crowds anywhere in the World.
I am not making any kind of cultural point in this diary just giving an honest account of the situation we happened to encounter in Bangladesh.
Thirdly - Having spent a fair amount of time in Bangladesh over the past twelve months I am fully aware of the passion for cricket and i think have some understanding of just what this victory meant. In the three months or so spent in Bangladesh I have found the vast majority of Cricket fans to be very friendly and the atmosphere around grounds has been generally very good. For example following the Opening Ceremony in Dhaka we were again searching for our minibus among a crowd and we did not for a moment feel any sort of threat ,instead the mood was joyous and we were made to feel very welcome. I am sure that our bad experience in Chittagong was an isolated incident - but I feel I have to be honest about it if I am to give a true impression of our experiences here.
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Comment number 7.
At 16th Mar 2011, Adam Mountford - ´óÏó´«Ã½ Cricket Producer wrote:BREAKING NEWS from Tim Peach. Have receieved the following Tweet.
"Oh bag - how I missed thee... reunited again after ten long days...
But in case you think things are going too well for Mr Peach ...he's just spent two days in bed with a bad stomach !
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Comment number 8.
At 16th Mar 2011, Neel wrote:I agree with Big Ripper. There's no need for Cricket Fan to get uptight. Mr Mountford hasn't been judgemental at all. New heights in a country's cricketing history or not, there's never any justification for bad behaviour. Mr. Mountford's reporting is fun, understated, and in the true spirit of sportsmanship, utterly sporting.
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Comment number 9.
At 16th Mar 2011, CricLover wrote:Adam, Wonderful expression of events. Waiting for some more ...
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Comment number 10.
At 16th Mar 2011, Tenisson wrote:I think everyone should relax, hehe.
I also just think that "Cricket Fan" misunderstood the tone and intention of Adam's blog and took it in a much more critical/judgmental fashion than what was meant... misinterpretations happens all the time online...
But the fact of the matter remains - it was a very scary experience and was no doubt the main talking point of their week, and was therefore rightly included in the blog. I have been in a few big crowds (gigs and things) and I remember in particular once, having that feeling of not being in control of your own movement and that is indeed a terrifying experience, and it can indeed end badly... glad you all made it out okay!
Beyond this little controversy, another very fun blog! The adventures (travails) of Mr Peach (and his luggage) are fast becoming a fascinating sub plot!
keep it up
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Comment number 11.
At 16th Mar 2011, R-Brooker wrote:To whom it may concern.
Excellent article on the Pollard/Benn threat.
Superb graphic on Pollard's strenghes (leg-side) and weaknesses (from middle-and-off 'outwards').
There seems to be a shortage of blogs during the World Cup. It's a shame.
Incidentally, excellent tour diary. Really enjoying them.
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Comment number 12.
At 16th Mar 2011, PienkZuit wrote:South Africa can eliminate England by losing to Bangladesh, seeing that they are already through to the quarters. But they wouldn't do that now would they?
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Comment number 13.
At 16th Mar 2011, hussainwales wrote:Thanks for an interesting insight on the atmosphere and chaos surrounding this world cup.
As a British Bangladeshi, i am deeply troubled by the behaviour of these fans, and apologise for that. these are ill educated people who harrass thier very own women, (very consistent with behaviour in many third world countries), so i can imagine how terrible a sitaution it would have been for Alison and yourselves that night. Where is the security for all the foreign journalist? just unacceptable really
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Comment number 14.
At 16th Mar 2011, AttackStar wrote:Hi to the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Team
I really cannot thank you enough for the fantastic coverage.
I am so sorry that you had to put up with an unruly crowd. I think the organisers have to always think about the safety of the journalists amid such crowds. Please also look after your belongings - I was not even spared my hearing aids while holidaying in Srilanka.
Being an Asian myself I am ashamed at the way some people behave in the subcontinent. It is also common in some crowded places for mens hands to wander and it is not just localised to tourists.
My advice please have a group of local people who can atleast provide cover and security. Some people are very friendly and fiercely protective of you, you only need to ask and identify yourselves as journalists and people will help. I think the organisers also should provide security.
CRICKET FAN is proud about the way Bangladesh has played but is not bit least concerned at the behaviour of the fans. If people behave this way tourists and even visiting countries will make a note and steer clear of visiting or playing cricket in Bangladesh.
Once again - well done to the fantastic team for all your sweat and toil. Please take care and please arrange some sort of protection in the crowd and come back home safe.
God bless.
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Comment number 15.
At 16th Mar 2011, Ashfaque Swapan wrote:To Mr Mountford:
As a California-based Bangladeshi expat currently caught up in the World Cup frenzy in Dhaka, I fully endorse Mr. Mountford's remarks. I think "cricket fan"s criticism is unfair. I have no doubt many Bangladeshis will join me in apologizing to Mr Mountford and the ´óÏó´«Ã½ team for what they went through -- I am particularly mortified about the horror visited upon the female members -- trust us, most Bangladeshis are NOT like that at all (as Mr Mountford duly notes).
To be sure, I have minor quibbles (as we do with most things in life), but let me take this opportunity the thank TMS in particular and the ´óÏó´«Ã½ in general for being a trusted and much beloved friend.
In California, thanks to the wonders of Internet on-demand, I am an avid listener of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ World Service, and enjoy the warmth, wit and bonhomie of TMS broadcast so much that I sometimes choose to listen to it rather than video broadcast.
I find Mr Mountford's tone to epitomize what is to me the quintessential ´óÏó´«Ã½ spirit -- scrupulously fair of course, but also imbued with a grace, compassion and not infrequently a light, witty touch.
There! I hope that makes amends for an unfair remark.
As we say in California, Keep up the good work!
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Comment number 16.
At 16th Mar 2011, Vamos Ye Azules wrote:Accustomed as we are to losing, I have developed a philosophical approach, which seemed most appropriate for the Bangladesh game. Whenever my teams lose, I find I can take comfort from the fact that in losing we have made some other people very happy.
Well done Bangladesh!!!
Meanwhile, it seems international sporting events these days, are based around the need for the local airlines to make money rather than the convenience of spectators and participants.
Loved the article, let's hope for a stay of execution tomorrow.
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Comment number 17.
At 17th Mar 2011, xumanah wrote:Thanks to all these overseas educated expat Bangladeshi's bearing apologies for the behaviour of their countrymen....not!
Yeah it is third world and we are a proud nation, but what do you expect? A parting of the waves for you to pass through a crowd of revellers because your from ENGLAND?? Yes I've been to many gigs and football matches where I've been shouted and threaten at even in this civilised country of England whilst members of my family have been spat on and called all sorts for wearing clothes that covers their modesty.
But thanks for going to the country of my ancestors, we may not be as 'civilised' as you but it could be worse.
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Comment number 18.
At 17th Mar 2011, Craig Smith wrote:Adam, I can just imagine the atmosphere there this evening after England's somewhat miraculous win - they just seem to be pulling out all the stops when it counts on the big matches... I'm still a little euphoric from the last couple of overs actually!
The commentary in today's match was hilarious - they flip-flopped between a sure win for England, to a sure win for the Windies and then back to England in the end. Spotted this funny cricket cartoon and article on a just now that I think you'd enjoy... about the cricket world cup and the joys (or not!) of the dreaded - definitely an appropriately comic read after today's match!
Look forward to reading more on England's escapades over there - hopefully all goes well and they're through to the quarters now!
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Comment number 19.
At 18th Mar 2011, GS wrote:Adam (and the others),
I think Cricket Fan's comment in post #3 was not in response to your blog but post #2 which says: "This blog has provided a good insight, sounds like Bangladesh might be a no go zone if they qualify from the group!"
And as a general comment(and similar to what most people have said), an isolated incident happens in every country e.g. the fact that I've been mugged in the US doesn't mean that the US is bad when it comes to crime. The more important thing is that it was reported and the guilty party caught so that it doesn't happen again.
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Comment number 20.
At 18th Mar 2011, SimonHenry wrote:´óÏó´«Ã½ website says: The Windies were 226-6, chasing 243, but were remarkably bowled out for 225 as England kept alive their hopes of reaching the World Cup Super Eights. Truly remarkable.
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Comment number 21.
At 18th Mar 2011, Maksood wrote:I was there in the game with my entire family including women and children and beg to differ the view presented in the article. Since when ´óÏó´«Ã½ sponsor this so called ‘honest’ personal experience over objective journalism? Bangladesh has treated all world cup teams’, visitors and officials with VIP status yet this article seems to present only what’s being missed. Let’s be sporty and objective and point out some positive experience you might have had in Chittagong.
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Comment number 22.
At 18th Mar 2011, GasheadinChelt wrote:Great article again Adam.
Maksood I do not believe Adam would manufacture a story about their experiences on 10/03/11. If the security staff inside the ground had done their jobs properly then items wouldn't have been stolen from the TMS crews bags and their transport would have been allowed in to pick them up where it should have done. Also you surely cannot be saying that what they all experienced outside the ground is acceptable behaviour.
Yes it was a great victory for Bangladesh and a thrilling game of cricket which showed that Bangladesh on their day are a match for many sides in the competition. It was also a great comeback following the debacle against the West Indies.
If we have a look at the comepetition as a whole England have been involved in 6 great games. The only consistent thing about them is their inconsistency. The disappointing thing has been that there have been too few games like that in the tournament so far between the other main teams. The only one which springs to mind is Pakistan vs Sri Lanka.
AsI'm typing this Sri Lanka have just stuffed New Zealand on the ground which is hosting the final. A comment has just been made, by Tony Greig I think, which is that with the dew which has come down on to the ground then the spectacle of a good final could be ruined as the outcome of the match will be decided by the toss. That surely would taint the competition. Please don't take that as a slight against Sri Lanka as it's not meant to be - I would like to see a competitive final.
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Comment number 23.
At 18th Mar 2011, Maksood wrote:GasheadinChelt, I am not disagreeing with what Adam wrote, it's terrible that he and the TMS crew had to go through that experience and I am pretty sure he can file a formal complain about this to the Bangladesh Cricket Board. However my objection is there's not a hint of positive tone in the article about the experience in Bangladesh/Chittagong which I have difficulty to comprehend. My point is, an article posted in ´óÏó´«Ã½ website should not be about someone's personal grievances but should reflect overall experience by the majority - is not that objective jornalism all about? By reading this article, however sporty or in good humor it meant to be, you have to agree that it puts a negative light on a 'Bangladesh experience' to a easy reader; easily reflected by the comment by a fellow TMS reader, ‘Bangladesh is a no go’. I mean there got to be something nice about Bangladesh/Chittagong, perhaps the chicken tikka masala in the hotel was out of the world and the constant supply of cuppa was a delight? Just saying.
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Comment number 24.
At 19th Mar 2011, Nayna Desai wrote:Your point about the excessive (and often quite mad) regulation around ambush marketing has become a signature of large sporting organisational bodies - I experienced the same type of thing when I visited South Africa last year for the FIFA soccer world cup. It's nothing to really wonder about Adam, I can confirm that fans do not get the respect they deserve!
It would serve those bodies well to remember the very people that make them successful... I won't hold my breath though.
Looking forward to your next weekly edition from the sub-continent!
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Comment number 25.
At 19th Mar 2011, steviej007 wrote:The story about a young Bangladesh fan, who apparently befriended a member of the Barmy Army called George when England toured here a year ago is quite true. Georgieporgie as he is known managed to take this young lad in the ground and meet a few well known people. I believe George still keeps in touch with his family in Chittagong.
I attended the first test in Chittagong last March. I used to buy my ticket outside the ground, being only five pounds for a VIP seat I bought another 10 tickets for the ground at 19p a ticket to give to the kids outside the ground. What a great place... Stevie
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Comment number 26.
At 20th Mar 2011, Kate_Hewts wrote:Thanks for these updates Adam, they give a fascinating insight into the 'glamorous' life of the TMS team and never fail to raise a smile.
Looking forward to reading what you have to say about England getting through to the next round.
Best of luck with the continuing travel 'challenges' and keep up the good work!
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Comment number 27.
At 20th Mar 2011, Whitehedges wrote:In contrast to Adam's experience, after the tied match in Bangalore the crowd were most friendly, many with cheery greetings and wanting to shake our hands. One young boy called Ganguly was in tears but his mother insisted he shook our hands.
Dealing with ground management was rather different though. The ground was surrounded with notices saying, in direct contravention of the published ICC Regulations, that no cameras and phones were allowed into the ground. Even worse we were not allowed to take water into the ground and it was not readily available inside, save by fighting your way through the crowd (in which one of our group had his pocket knifed and his wallet removed), from plastic water tanks which were sitting out in the sun all day. Yes the theft could have happened in any crowd but organisation encouraged it.
Something for the ECB to sort before the tour in the autumn.
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Comment number 28.
At 21st Mar 2011, BigH65 wrote:Whitehedges, I agree totally with your comments about the appalling levels of organisation in Bangalore for the India game. The day before, I spent an hour and three quarters queueing for tickets that were supposed to have been sent to me by courier dispatch (only one ticket window open), and a further two and a half hours queueing to get into the game. Security tried to confiscate my sun cream and hand sanitizer - both essential items to take into Indian grounds, and you're right about no safe drinking water being provided. Despite the fact that according to the small-print on the ticket, mobile phones were banned, there were competitions on the big screen that required you to send a text, and free videos that required you to switch on Bluetooth!
The level of organisation at that game in Chittagong was actually quite a lot better than that, and we didn't have to queue at all to get in despite the game being a sell-out, since unlike in Bangalore sufficient gates were open. Regarding the crowd scenes that Adam described, I walked through that same crowd with some other England fans, and experienced no hostility whatsoever, although the celebrations were the most intense and frenzied I have ever witnessed. That half-mile walk was certainly unnerving, but people who noticed us just wanted to shake our hands and were being friendly. I have never shaken hands with so many people in my life. We were certainly worried about being completely overwhelmed, and possibly pickpocketed by opportunist criminals though, and were very glad indeed when we got to the car that one of our number had had the foresight to arrange! It is certainly wrong that media people had to go through that with their equipment.
All the England fans I spoke to who went to Chittagong were glad we went, glad that we saw an exciting game of cricket, glad we experienced the celebrations and delight of the Bangladesh fans, and agreed that we were made more welcome in Bangladesh than we ever were in India. The idea that Bangladesh (as suggested in an earlier post) is some kind of no-go zone is very wide of the mark indeed.
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Comment number 29.
At 21st Mar 2011, archicrooks wrote:TMS coverage is as good as ever but the ´óÏó´«Ã½ live score on the web REALLY irritates me. I would just rather read the score and a report about how the game is going-i dont the coverage is enhanced one little bit by "people getting involved" I Personally couldnt care less the fact "simon from Brighton is listening to TMS in his work toilet or the fact Brian from Swansea thinks Bell should open the batting" and im sure people arent bothered about my opinions either.
so why open up the live score feed to everyone-there are plenty forums such as this one for discussions on cricket.
kep the live acore just for that-live updates with no inane rubbish in them
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Comment number 30.
At 23rd Mar 2011, Greyandcold wrote:#23
you are quite wrong, objective journalism should not reflect the "overall experience of the many"
It can ONLY reflect EXACTLY what the person reporting it has experienced, otherwise it is not objective, and therefore based on supposition and second hand information.
This was objective reporting.
Also, Adam states that what happened to them later in the evening "soured" it for them. If he felt that the whole experience had been unpleasant then he wouldn't have used that word.
The ´óÏó´«Ã½ is not the Bangladesh Tourist Marketing Board, and should not be reprimanded for not being so.
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Comment number 31.
At 23rd Mar 2011, Maksood wrote:BigH65, thank you for putting some perspective on 'Chittagong' experience.
Greyandcold, agreed that ´óÏó´«Ã½ is not the Bangladesh Tourist Marketing Board, however ´óÏó´«Ã½ should not be a Bangladesh Bashing Board as well, is not that fair?
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Comment number 32.
At 24th Mar 2011, Greyandcold wrote:It is not the Bangladesh Bashing Board. He is writing a blog based on HIS EXPERIENCES. Is that a tricky concept? Given that this was a fairly dominant part of his experience, indeed probably extremely scary, and still a dominant thought in his mind whenever he sees a large boisterous crowd, no matter where, then it should form the dominant part of the blog.
I'm also sure there are many wonderful things to see and do in Bangladesh, but the life he describes sounds like he mainly sees, airports, hotel rooms, route to stadium, route back from stadium, hotel room, route to airport, long delay in airport, that i really don't think he has time to go and see the sights.
What do you think?
Do you think that whilst writing a blog about HIS EXPERIENCES, he should chuck in a heart-warming story about the local temple, just for balance?
Or are you intelligent?
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Comment number 33.
At 6th Apr 2011, Joseph Reddy wrote:My wife lost her luggage too on a flight from Sri Lanka to India last month - that definitely would not make any list of . I guess it goes with the events on the subcontinent - part and parcel of the adventure! What an amazing tournament it was. Hard to believe the hype about the next season of IPL in India has already started!
Joseph -
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