What do Dhaka parks and village tea shops have in common in Bangladesh for just a couple more days? They all have TVs tuned to World Cup Cricket, which is being hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh this year.
Don't worry. I haven't gotten into cricket at all. I don't really even know what a wicket is or why the pitchers do that strange long-jump style hop before they throw the ball. I won't be writing about the game itself.
I have, however, observed a few things about how hosting a world-viewed event can affect a developing country like Bangladesh. The most optimistic people point to the cleaner city streets, new sculptures of giant cricket bats, and crowds wearing green and red jerseys and claim that hosting this event has "really brought Bangladesh together." The most pessimistic point to the cleaner streets and ask whether the beggars who have been cleared out of the city(1) are actually getting the living allowance they were promised for staying out of sight. The most paranoid foreigners hunker down behind hat brims any time Bangladesh loses a game, fearing a riot.
I'm just happy to see so many other kids laughing as they emulate their favorite players. Hockey still looks more fun, but that requires ice!
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