Lesson from the superhuman endurance of cricketers

At a time when heat waves are on the rampage in most parts of Bangladesh, the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League (DPDCL) in short (DPL) defies the heat. A 50-over match that starts at 9:30 in the morning continues throughout the day's most sizzling hours when the sun is at its most merciless. Dhaka recorded its highest temperature at 40.4 degree Celsius on April 20 last. On that day there was no match but the past week and the week before saw the mercury rising relentlessly. The matches of the Super League began last week. Heat and humidity take the ultimate taste of cricketers who bat, bowl and field under the scorching sun. Especially, the batters have to battle not against the bowlers but also against hostile elements. Similarly, bowlers, the fast bowlers in particular, are sure to lose their energy because of their run-ups or long run-ups. How can batters and wicketkeepers simply stay in the field with their cricketing gears such as pads and gloves on? Their body temperature should rise beyond endurance with heat and humidity causing profuse sweating.

The heat waves have forced closure of educational institutions including public universities. If tiny tots attending schools are relieved from doing so during this hot spell, it is more than justified. After all, they are especially vulnerable to punishing heat. But the government did not want to take any chance and declared closure of educational institutions including the tertiary ones. Classes of universities are held in well furnished classrooms with electric fans rotating overhead. The important thing is that there is no sun there to beat down on teachers and students mercilessly. True, students who stay away from varsity campuses need to commute or somehow get there on time to attend classes if the institutions are open.

Admittedly, playing cricket is one thing and attending classes are completely different exercises. But if cricketers can endure the overturned cauldron-like sun on their head throughout most of the day, varsity students ought to take their intermittent lessons. On certain days, they even have one or two classes and there is hardly any day when they have more than four classes. Even college students and those of senior classes in schools are most likely to rise up to the challenge. What if the hot spell prolongs? There is every likelihood that people not only of this part of the world but also of the traditionally colder countries are confronting rising temperatures. Every passing year may bring higher temperature unless something miraculous happens.

So, adaptation to the hostile weather has to be practised right from now. Given the cricketers' ordeal and rigorous test of energy and stamina---let alone the concentration level required to score a half century or a ton requiring longer stay on cricket pitch---students' and teachers' jobs are far less daunting. Undeniably, cricketers, footballers, tennis players and other athletes have to take their physical fitness to higher and next higher levels if they are serious about performing at the highest levels. The G generation popularly known as GenG has been techno-savvy but they neglect their health most. By the time they go to bed, another day begins and by the time they get up, the day is almost over. Their physical fitness is suspect and this is highly concerning.

The planet is heating up and there is no sign of any letup because the leaders of the leading nations would not go for any drastic measure to reduce use of fossil fuels and allow the globe to cool down. Unless the GenG takes its physical fitness to the level closer to that of athletes, their existence on the planet will be at risk. By the time they would better look for alternative clean energy and advanced as well as cheaper technologies for its production.

The mother Earth has already become inhospitable, it will turn uninhabitable for any living being sooner or later if the warming continues at this rate. Before that happens, there is no alternative to raising physical fitness like cricketers who are now exemplifying the steely nerve that actually serves as the driving motive behind their mind-boggling performance against elemental odds. Had there not been enough mental preparation for playing the game in this hostile weather, it would be impossible for them to put up such superhuman feats or act like aliens from another planet. Indeed, man can transcend the most daunting boundary if there is the will to do so.