Dr. Md. Shairul Mashreque :
The standard of Bangladesh cricket is definitely rising. This is because each successive regime in the country has been serious about development of cricket all to the expectation of our cricket lovers. Both the government and cricket fans are serious about promotion of cricket through its institutionalization in a desired direction. There is a proverb ‘if there is a will there is a way.’ Our cricket circle blessed with state patronization used to dream of acquiring international standard beating all test playing countries in fifty-fifty limited over matches. Now the dream came true. Previously we lost most one-day cricket. Now we are beginning to win a number of limited over matches and also series. We are no longer treated as underdogs. There was time when Bangladesh’s spectacular win against overdogs was described as fluke or accident. By now our cricket team has enhanced its status improving its position in ICC ratings with the players like Sakib, Mushrafi, Tamim, Mehdi Hasan, Musfique, Mahmudullah to mention a few, becoming professional cricketers. Sakib was awarded best cricketer of the year at the international level. In the international list of scoring most run in tests in a calendar year Tamin is in the reckoning. Scintillating performance of our space bowlers like Taskin and Mustafiz and spinners like Sakib and Mehdi Hasan Miraj glorifies us inspiring the rising cricketers of the country. Miraz finished the series with 19 scalps
Sabash Bangladesh sabash Sakib and Miraz. Bangladesh registered a stunning victory against a high profile test team like England. The victory was really amazing-a sort of hard earned achievement in classical cricket. This is somewhat justified ICC decision to incude team Bangladesh as a test playing country. Of course Bangladesh cricket team is rising to the scale so far as test is concerned. England could not under estimate the tigers. It rather utilized all its batting and bowling resources counting upon three spinners-all Muslims. To my utter astonishment team India at present has only one Muslim cricketer whereas Muslims population stands second in demography perhaps crossing fifteen crore mark. Muslims cricketer like Sarfaraz Khan is a young prodigy. But he is out of reckoning.
The spectators burst into wild celebration. Numerous fans posted status in face book exchanging in this grand gala moment. One status commended that British defeated Siraj in battle of Plassey in a deceptive manner. Celebrations erupted at Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla Stadium and across the country as Bangladeshis reveled in one of the proudest moments in their sporting history.
Now Miraj rose to the occasion humiliating the English. Had there been Mustafiz in full feat there would have been a chance of Banlawashing England in both ODs and tests. As the New Nation observed
The BD fans now would like to expect much from Miraz and Mustafiz and Mamudulah (three M). Miraz and Mustafiz are becoming two icons in our bowling department. We thank both Hature Singh and Kutni Walsh to inspire our young cricketer. They happen to make the tigers rise to the scale. According news reports:
BANGLADESH Cricket team played superb and secured the first ever victory in the Test match over England on Sunday at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. With a buoyant skilled England team; which won all earlier nine Test matches against Bangladesh, Tigers won their victory this time breaking the past record. Bangladesh fans find another young talent like Miraaz. Teenage all-rounder Mehedi Hasan Miraz emerges as the brilliant youngster in Bangladesh Cricket in his debut in the test series against England that concluded on Sunday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. The 19-year-old right arm off break bowler from Khulna, Miraz picked up 12 wickets.
Even in the first test at Zahur Ahmed stadium Chittagong Bangladesh played superb. Chasing a small target Bangladesh had to suffer defeat. England had a hair-breadth escape from the defeat Earlier before facing the tigers England was very concerned about security.
As ESPN reports: Resuming on 253 for 8, with 33 runs still required, Bangladesh had visions of securing only their eighth Test victory in 94 attempts, and their first against England in nine. However, a brace of lbws in the fourth over of the morning – the first reviewed in optimism by England, the second in desperation by the last man, Shafiul Islam – left their hero of the second innings, Sabbir Rahman, high and dry on 64 not out.
Facing a dilemma when play resumed, Alastair Cook showed his hand from the outset, handing Stuart Broad the first over of the morning, following on from his marathon nine-over spell on the fourth evening, and partnering him with Stokes, the man whose mastery of reverse swing had proven so illegible to Bangladesh’s tail in the first innings.
But Bangladesh began their morning’s work with confidence. Sabbir opened his account with a push through the covers for two, before Taijul – once again trusted to hold his own with the bat – flashed a Stokes short ball over the keeper’s head for four.
The new ball was available after two overs but Cook opted to persevere with the old, with the long-sleeved Joe Root once again charged to preserve its precious shine. But the hooping reverse of the first innings remained elusive as Bangladesh chiselled out their singles, with every run greeted with ecstasy by a small contingent of Bangladesh fans who made an otherwise echoing stadium sound packed to the rafter
In the second test tigers bounced backing determined to beat England. They played a smart cricket in a seemingly merciless wicket.
As celebrated English Daily Dawn reports: Bangladesh recorded their first Test victory over England, taking all ten wickets in a single session thanks to teenage off-spin sensation Mehedi Hasan to win the second Test by 108 runs and square the series.Chasing a target of 273, England seemed to be cruising when Alastair Cook and Ben Duckett guided them to 100 without loss at tea.But 19-year-old Mehedi, playing in only his second Test, triggered a dramatic collapse in the final session of the third day.England crumbled to 164 all out to suffer their first-ever defeat by Bangladesh in 10 Tests and share the two-Test series 1-1.Bangladesh secured Test status in 2000 and the win was only their eighth in 95 Tests — and the first against a full-strength side from a major country.”It’s a great moment for Bangladesh cricket. It was up and down and you never knew which team would win,” said jubilant captain Mushfiqur Rahim.The coach was a bit fired up at tea. We didn’t bowl too well. Then they tried to bowl in good areas and did really well. The bowlers did a great job.We didn’t think Mehedi will shine like this. He’s a good batsman as well and hopefully will be a great all-rounder for Bangladesh.” Mehedi, who celebrated his 19th birthday this week, took the final wicket of Steven Finn to finish with 6-77 in the innings and 12 for 159 in the match.It was his country’s best-ever bowling figure in Tests, overtaking Enamul Haque Jr’s 12-200 against Zimbabwe in 2005.
With this historic test victory first ever team Bangladersh is expected to perform well in forthcoming test. They should feel that they are able to face any heavy weight test team. The future seems to be dazzling with BCCB taking special care. Mind test cricket though long and boring is a test of patience and long match temperament. Being a grammar of cricket it helps cricketers to perform well with all perfection, footwork and ability to play out time for a draw if necessary. At times it helps cricketers to prove equal to the task in ODs and T-Twenty.
(Dr. Md. Shairul Mashreque, Professor, Department of Public Administration, Chittagong University, Bangladesh)
