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Tag Archives: Tamim Iqbal

Asia Cup 2012 final: how I withnessed it!

As far I can remember, Asia cup 2012 was playing for the 2nd time in big tournament. Don’t know what will people tell about previous one but this time they played really well through out the tournament. Their performance and consistency surprised everyone. For that reason whole country, no the whole cricket world, was looking for the final match of Asia cup 2012.

People of the country was so excited for this match that most of the people rescheduled their work. I too was looking forward to this final with excitement and great hope. With the performance Bangladesh team was showing, I was pretty much sure something great might happen in the final. I skipped my classes at ICMAB to watched the whole match in TV.

During Pakistan‘s innings, our hope started to go up as Bangladesh team was showing outstanding performance in balling and fielding. They showed excellent fielding performance except the 50th over where they gave away 17 runs. But still our hopes was getting higher and higher.

Bangladesh’s innings were bit slow but not depressing. Tamim was in wicket. He showed brilliant performance in last 3 matches. So people was thinking he will do the same in this match too. Yes indeed he did. He scored  runs in the match which gave him 4th consecutive ODI in this tournament. Although he was performing great but his partners didn’t do well. They took too many balls to score few runs. Later Sakib came to the wicket and scored some runs. And gradually Bangladesh was reaching for their target. And everyone knows what happened at the end.

When Bangladesh needed 30 runs to win, I set out of home to see of my sister and mother to Chandpur. Yeah I missed the last part of the match but I saw something amazing. When I was on my way to Sadarghat waterway station, I found that all roads was almost empty. Where it takes one hour to reach sadarghat from my home, it took only 25 minutes. But often I heard people was shouting in excitement as Bangladesh team was scoring. Even the police and other forces who were on patrol through out the city was listening to the commentary on radio.

I was getting updates from my friend. I too became excited. By the time I reached to my destination, Bangladesh team needed 4 runs in 1 ball remaining. I saw a large crowd watching the match in TV in a corner. When I got aboard in the ship, I heard the news that Bangladesh lost the match by 2 runs. That was really a close call.

Just after the match was finished, whole station become crowded. And believe me it took almost 45 minutes to came home back. But I saw people was so much depressed. Later I saw that our players cried too. They didn’t just cry, they made others to cry with them.

This match was an excellent example of our patriotism. This match brought leaders of all large political party in same ground. This match made them to putt aside their differences. People of country started to support a single team “Team Bangladesh” although they support different teams and political parties. Also our cricket team showed their abilities to the cricket world. This tournament was great achievement for Bangladesh Cricket Team. People will remember this tournament and the final match for a long time.

One big mistake and fall of tigers….

India is the winner of very first match of ICC World Cup 2011. Though I don’t want to acknowledge it but still this is the fact. But I have no regret for supporting Bangladesh team. They played very well. And I’m very proud for them.

It was very painful for Bangladesh team supporters to watch how Indian innings started. Sehwag and Tendulkar gaving an amzing start for India. They were creating a pressure on Bangladesh from the start. Fortunately Tendulkar was run-out by Shakib Al Hasan and which brought back hope for the tigers‘ supporters. But Sehwag survived to make sure the pressure keeps building. He playing a great innings of 175 runs. I’ll give more credit to Bangladeshi bowlers  than Sehwag. Because balling of Bangladeshi bowlers wasn’t up to the mark. None of the pacers could ball following the line and length. This is the point when I started missing Mashrafi. Also fielding was very poor. Sakib couldn’t arrange fielders in right way. As a result India scored 370 which have shaken Bangladesh team’s confidence.

Tigers had a perfect start too. They scored 51 runs just in 5 overs. Thanks to Imrul Kayes for the quick runs. But soon he had to leave the field. His out was a misfortune. After Kayes left, run rate for tigers became bit slow. After 15 overs Bangladesh scored 95 runs. And after the 50 overs, Bangladesh scored 283 runs for 9 wickets. It was a very good innings for Bangladesh. But there was only one problem. Tigers could not use the batting power play properly. They lost 3 wickets for 30 runs. Instead of collecting runs Bangladesh lost few wickets. Other than this 283/9 is a very good fighting score.

There is only one mistake, as I see,  which is the reason for tigers’ downfall. And that is “choosing to field first after winning the toss“. I don’t know why Shakib or Bangladesh team took this decision but it sure was suicidal. W G Grace once said, “When u win the toss then Bat, if in doubt, Think, then Bat, if in more doubt, consult a team-mate, then Bat”. I’m sure Bangladesh Team forgot that. Beside I don’t see any logic for choosing fielding first. At the middle of day there is no dew reason to think about. I think Bangladesh team didn’t consider that batting in floodlight is more difficult than batting in daylight. Also Mirpur Stadium was a batting pitch. So there is no point in fielding first.

If, only if, Shakib and authorities had chosen to bat first, result could be other way around. If Bangladesh could score the same 283/9  in the first innings, they could create pressure on India. Also they could take the advantage of floodlight. And ultimately tigers could start the world cup with a win. But any kind of analysis is now worthless. What happened is already happened. There is no way to change it. But this learning should guide the tigers to future decisions.

Finally I want to congratulate tigers for the match.Specially Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Rakibul Islam, Mahmudullah for keeping their head cool. Tigers played really well. I hope they will continue this performance in the next matches. And they will win all the matches and make us proud.

 

Watch out cricket wrold!

Bangladesh national cricket team

Official Logo of Bangladesh Cricket Board.

Today  Bangladesh cricket team & its captain Shakib Al Hasan were all over the newspapers. I didn’t find any newspaper without report on Bangladesh cricket team. Everyone is praising the team and captain Shakib. Why won’t they? For the first time Bangladesh won a series against a full strength test playing country. They just won the 5 ODI series against New Zealand.

From the last Series against New Zealand, I like to see them as the the opponent of Bangladesh team in cricket. So I was really looking forward for this series. Before the series stared I was sure that Bangladesh team will win at least one ODI. But I never thought they will win the series.  They really surpassed my expectation.

My Family knows I’m a great fan of Bangladesh cricket team. So every time  I say something about BD team, they try to make fun out of it and make me angry. After Bangladesh won the first ODI, I was too excited. I told my father about the win. My father said “Don’t get too excited. Your team is going to loose next match.” When the 2nd match got abandoned,  I was little bit upset. Again my father told me ” your team got lucky. if the match didn’t get abandoned, BD team would loose.” So I told him that Bangladesh will win in the next match even though I wasn’t sure about it. My father replied “BD team was just lucky in the first match. They won’t be lucky in next match.” So when Bangladesh won the 2nd match, I sent a text to my father saying “In your face dad. Bangladesh won the match by 7 wickets & 10 overs.” That night, my father told me “Ok, Bangladesh is playing well. but they will loose the next two matches. They can’t continue the performance.” I replied “They don’t have to win. They have already did it. Now they are not loosing the series. I don’t expect more.”

Even though I said “I don’t expect more”, During the 5th ODI, I was  sitting like statue in front of TV whole  time. I was terrified with the beginning of Bangladesh innings. But Sakib pulled out the team from danger. After the Bangladesh innings, I told my mom “Bangladesh have scored 241. I think they are going to win the match & the series.” I was surprised when mom replied “huh! New Zealand is a weak team. there is nothing to be excited about.” I asked her “how can you tell that NZ is a weak team?” Again she replied ” if NZ wasn’t a weak team, how come Bangladesh won last 2 matches. Bangladesh can’t win against strong teams.” Then I said ” may be it’s time to think that Bangladesh is becoming a strong team. They will win the match & the series”. Yes, they did.

Yes! I know Bangladesh cricket history is not that bright. But we are developing. I saw the change in the mentality of the players. They are now more dedicated and professional. They are giving their best efforts in every matches. Now our players are becoming world class players. Our players are getting international recognition.  At present Shakib is the No. 1 all-rounder in Cricket. Tamim Iqbal has been named as “Test Player of the Year” award by Wisden Cricketer Magazine. Last year, Shakib won this award.

If we want to keep this performance consistent, we have to nurture our players carefully. Or else their merit won’t be recognized anymore. It would be like what happened to Ashraful.  We had Ashraful was considered to be the next little master. But he wasn’t able to keep going.

If we can utilize our players merit, our country sure will become a cricket giant. One day will come when Bangladesh will rule the cricket world.  May be that day is not near, you can’t see it. But listen carefully, you will hear tiger’s roar. Watch out cricket world, Tigers are coming……

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