A prominent young sports organiser from Feni, Shariful Islam Opu, has been appointed as a councillor of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), marking the first time a representative from the district has secured such a position. His nomination is widely regarded as recognition of his long-standing contribution to grassroots cricket development, talent identification, and the organisation of local sporting competitions.
Shariful Islam Opu began his sporting journey as a player, first representing the Doktorpara Club before moving on to Feni Government Pilot High School. During his school years, he established himself as a promising cricketer and played a key role in his team’s success in national-level school and madrasa competitions in 2004, when they secured the championship title. The following year, he represented the Feni district under-17 team as a fast bowler, further strengthening his reputation at the local level.
However, his playing career came to an abrupt end in 2006 due to a serious injury sustained during a local tournament, when he suffered a fracture to his right hand. Following this setback, he transitioned fully into sports organisation and development work.
In 2009, Opu established a cricket training centre in Feni with the aim of nurturing young talent from the grassroots. Through this initiative, alongside his involvement with the Friendship Cricket Club, he played a significant role in shaping emerging cricketers from the region. Notably, his developmental work contributed to the early cricketing journey of Mohammad Saifuddin, the only cricketer from Feni to have represented Bangladesh at the international level.
Between 2008 and 2010, he organised a highly popular series of tournaments at the Feni Government Pilot High School field, which ran for three consecutive years and significantly revitalised the local sporting environment. These events attracted participation from various clubs and also drew attention from national-level sports organisers and former players.
In 2010, he was officially included in the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s approved list of umpires. The following year, he pioneered one of the first privately organised school-based cricket tournaments in the country, which received considerable attention in sporting circles. In 2014, he organised a Twenty20 tournament involving young players from various clubs in Feni, further expanding opportunities for emerging talent.
One of his most distinctive initiatives was the “Future Cricket Festival” for children, which brought kindergarten-level participants into organised cricket activities. This programme encouraged early engagement with sport among children and increased parental interest in structured physical activities.
Key milestones in Shariful Islam Opu’s sporting journey
| Year / Period | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2004 | Champions in national school and madrasa cricket competition |
| 2005 | Represented Feni district under-17 team as fast bowler |
| 2006 | Playing career ended due to injury |
| 2008–2010 | Organised popular school-ground tournaments in Feni |
| 2009 | Established cricket training centre in Feni |
| 2010 | Included in BCB-approved umpire panel |
| 2011 | Organised first private school-based cricket tournament |
| 2014 | Hosted local Twenty20 club tournament |
Local sports organisers believe that Opu’s sustained commitment to grassroots cricket and his consistent efforts to develop young players have earned him this national-level responsibility. His appointment is seen as a milestone for Feni’s sporting community and a reflection of the growing importance of regional contributions to cricket development in Bangladesh.