A venomous saga of missteps and misfortune

When it rains, it pours. For Bangladesh, issues of the Russell’s vipers and cricketing woes are pouring simultaneously. When dodging a venomous snakebite is becoming as common as dodging blame in cricket, it’s hard to tell which is the greater menace: The lethally quick strike of a Russell’s viper or the painfully slow demise of our cricket team’s T20 World Cup dreams.

Once upon a time, the Russell’s viper was a near-mythical creature, much like the legend of Bangladesh winning a major ICC trophy. Sightings were rare, and fatalities even rarer. But just like our hopes in cricket, the viper has made a spectacularly unwelcome comeback. Now, the snake isn’t just in Barendra; it’s spreading faster than a rumour about a new cricket coach, in the outskirts of Dhaka, Barishal, and Patuakhali.
Wildlife experts tell us that the destruction of the food chain -- particularly the elimination of natural predators like foxes, monitor lizards, and mongooses -- has led to a population boom among these vipers. It’s like removing all competent cricket coaches and then wondering why the team is losing. Genius move, really.
Known locally as Chandrabora or Ulubora, the Russell’s viper could be mistaken for a baby python -- but only if you’re really bad at distinguishing snakes. Measuring between three to five feet and bearing distinctive moon-like spots, these snakes are masters of camouflage, much like how our cricket team's batting prowess is cleverly disguised as ample mediocrity, reports DT.
These vipers are aggressive and strike with lightning speed, completing the entire process in just a sixteenth of a second. Compare that to our cricket team, which can’t seem to complete a chase of 125 in a T20 match without dragging it out like a soap opera.
Ten people have died this year from viper bites, and our cricket team seems to be on a similar trajectory of inflicting tragedy. The venom of the Russell’s viper is hematotoxic, causing severe tissue damage, much like the psychological damage suffered by watching Bangladesh’s top order collapse under pressure. A viper bite causes immediate swelling and can lead to organ failure, not unlike the immediate swelling of despair and organ-grinding frustration experienced by fans during our matches.
Traditional beliefs and superstitions in rural areas lead to delays in seeking medical treatment for snake bites, which is ironic because similar superstitions and delays in making strategic changes are what plague our cricket team. Meanwhile, the Department of Health assures us that antivenom is being distributed in high-risk areas. If only there were a similar antidote for our cricketing performances!
The experts working on a specific antivenom highlights the need for tailored solutions -- something our cricket board might want to consider instead of the knee-jerk reactions and recycled strategies. Until then, we’re stuck with Indian antivenom and cricketing ideas, neither of which seem fully effective here.
These snakes are masters of camouflage, much like how our cricket team's batting prowess is cleverly disguised as ample mediocrity
It’s hard to overlook the recent T20 World Cup performances. Ten years ago, we were on life support, much like those bitten by a Russell’s viper. Fast forward to 2024, and we managed to scrape a win over Sri Lanka, which is about as thrilling as a snake slithering into your bathroom.
Our batting is as fragile as a mouse in a field full of vipers. Despite occasional flashes of brilliance from players like Towhid Hridoy and Rishad Hossain, the team’s performance overall is as underwhelming as an old snake charmer's flute in front of a hyperactive cobra.
Coach Chandika Hathurusinghe and former coach Stuart Law have both criticized the domestic setup, pointing out that the quality of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is lower than a snake’s belly. Hathurusinghe even admitted to turning off the TV during BPL matches -- an act many fans can relate to.
The snake thrives in the paddy fields, much like how mediocre cricket thrives on excuses. Farmers are urged to wear gumboots for protection, akin to how our cricketers should perhaps consider protective gear for their fragile egos. The snake’s aggressive nature mirrors the aggression in our cricket administration, but unfortunately, only in off-field battles and blame games.
Farmers and fishermen face daily threats from Russell’s viper. Traditional beliefs hinder swift action, leading to more fatalities, much like our cricket team’s belief in outdated strategies and over-reliance on a few players. Misinformation about the viper led to panic, similar to how rumours and half-baked strategies led to our cricket team’s perennial state of confusion.
What’s the future for Bangladesh? As the Russell’s viper expands its territory, our cricket team must expand its horizons. Awareness, protective measures, and timely interventions are crucial -- whether it’s about avoiding a snakebite or a cricketing collapse. We need more research, better training, and above all, a willingness to adapt and learn.
The ongoing efforts to distribute antivenom and educate the public about the Russell’s viper are commendable, much like the occasional bursts of common sense in our cricket administration. But until we tackle the root causes -- whether it’s the ecological imbalance leading to more vipers or the structural issues in our cricket -- we’ll continue to be haunted by both.
So here we are, caught between a rock and a snake pit. As Russell’s vipers slither their way across Bangladesh, our cricket team must navigate the treacherous terrain of international cricket. Both need vigilance, better strategies, and a whole lot of hope. And maybe, just maybe, one day we’ll look back at this time with a smile, knowing we survived the venom -- both literally and metaphorically.
Until then, keep your gumboots on and your cricketing hopes tempered. You never know when a viper might strike -- on the field or off it.
HM Nazmul Alam is a lecturer, Department of English and Modern Languages, International University of Business, Agriculture and Technology.