ZCZC
BSP-10
CRICKET-BANGLADESH-RISING
When cricket takes center stage in Bangladesh’s sports
DHAKA, April 13, 2020 (BSS) – Bangladesh has plenty of memorable
moments in its cricket history but what was prelude to that successes
was the ICC Championship trophy, which they won preciously 23 years
ago on this day – 13th April in 1997.
Number 13 might be unlucky but for Bangladesh it’s a lucky number as
the country saw a watershed moment in its history on this very day in
1997.
As Hasibul Hossain Shanto made the winning run and ran like mad
towards the dressing room, a slice of history is created in the Kilat
Kelab Ground, in Kualalampur in Malaysia. The ground is now known as
Tenaga National Sports Complex.
Bangladesh had already ensured the 1999 World Cup when they beat
Scotland to move into the final. But win against Kenya is something
which every cricketers in that team savoured.
The country wants to make a statement by winning the trophy, said
the then captain Akram Khan whose groundbreaking 67 runs knock against
the Netherlands after the side being reduced to 15-4, kept Bangladesh
rolling into the tournament.
If Akram couldn’t have played that knock, Bangladesh certainly
wouldn’t have sealed semifinal spot and ensured the 1999 World Cup in
England.
Bangladesh won five out of five in the first round before saw the
inclement weather washed out their game against Ireland. That made the
things complicated as the game against the Netherlands became a
must-win match for them.
Akram said after that groundbreaking three-wicket victory against
the Netherlands, they set the bar high and wanted to become champions.
“The memory of the victory against the Netherlands is still vivid.
Such was tensed match and such was nerve-wrecking match that sometimes
it felt we couldn’t take more of that. But by the grace of almighty I
could play the most memorable knock of my life and took the side to
the semifinal,” Akram said here today.
“Afterwards, we set the bar high for us. We knew if we could play to
our potential we can beat Scotland in the semifinal. But there is some
tension also because we reached so close quite a few times to ensure
the World Cup berth earlier but simply we couldn’t do that. However
everyone was determined this time around and we could beat Scotland to
ensure that we will be playing the World Cup for the first time.”
Bangladesh beat Scotland by 72 in the semifinal to set a clash
against Kenya in the final.
“But obviously our goal was to win against Kenya and lift the
trophy, for which we were craving for.”
The continuous rain pushed the final game into the reserve day after
Kenya racked up 241-7 thanks to a sublime century from Steve Tikolo.
During that period, the kind of score was bigger than anticipation.
However Bangladesh got a revised target of 166 from 25 overs, which by
any means was very tough matter.
But they showed a never-say-attitude and every batsman made a useful
contribution with some aggressive batting to help Bangladesh win it by
two wickets.
“It was a watershed moment when Shanto picked up the winning run.
But we had the belief that we could win it despite we are down at
151-8. Shanto and Pilot kept the nerve and won us it in the last
ball,” Akram recalled the memory.
The ICC Trophy winning team was given a grand reception in the
city’s Manik Mea Avenue where tens of thousands people were present to
give them the hero’s welcome.
Sheikh Hasina Government who took the country’s charge for the first
time set a well laid plan to pave the way for the huge success, Akram
said.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was very sincere and gave everything
what we need to win the trophy,” he said.
The success had major impact in Bangladesh’s sports also as it
overtook Football to become the country’s No.1 sport and as of now
continued its No.1 status.
“Football was the most popular game in Bangladesh but when we became
the champions in the ICC Trophy it changed the syntax of country’s
sport. Cricket is still now the No.1 sports of Bangladesh,” he
concluded.
BSS/SMP/MRU/1948hrs