Dr. Md. Shairul Mashreque :
Before the Indo-Bangladesh first ODI, I posted a plethora of suggestions for the Bangladesh team management to reach the avouched goal. Happily, the team management selected team judiciously. It seems to draw a proper plan burning midnight oil. The tigers’ openers batted well executing shots to the fens meticulously. The tigers simply wrecked havoc with a scintillating batting and bowling performances in the first two ODIs. On the 10th anniversary of their famous win over Australia at Cardiff, Bangladesh thumped a full-strength Indian team in front of a raucous Mirpur crowd. Nineteen-year-old Mustafizur Rahman, a new sensational paceer; keeled over India’s batsmen with an assortment of cutters to become the second Bangladesh bowler after Taskin Ahmed to claim a five-wicket haul on debut. His performance came after a rapid 102-run opening stand between Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar who had formed the centrepiece of Bangladesh’s 307, their ever highest against India in ODIs.
Indian pacers (both not-so-fast) Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav erred on the pads, which was the theme of the early part of the innings and Dhoni was forced to bring his lead spinner – Ashwin – as early as in the eighth over. The opening pair was however separated in the 14th over by some indecision between the wickets, Raina’s accurate arm cutting short Sarkar’s promising innings at 54. That is the beauty of cricket.
Tamim reached a fifty also before a drizzle grew heavier, resulting in a delay of about an hour. It catalyzed a shift in momentum with Ashwin striking thrice in four overs after the resumption. Ashwin had an able ally in Raina who settled into an asphyxiating rhythm in an uninterrupted spell, which read: 10-0-40-0.
Sabbir Rahman, though, combined well with Shakib, assembling 83 runs in 14.2 overs before Ravindra Jadeja bowled Sabbir with a signature flat darter. Shakib could have also been dismissed on 38 had Jadeja held onto a tough return catch. Shakib could only add 14 more before perishing to Umesh.
Bhuvneshwar and Umesh tightened things up at the death, giving away only 35 while picking up four wickets in the last five over. However, late cameos from Mashrafe and Nasir hauled Bangladesh to their second 300-plus score in four ODIs. Interviewed at the innings break, Shakib said that Bangladesh were 25 runs short. But as it turned out, they had ended with 79 more, capping off the night in a mood of revelry with Taskin and Mashrafe reprising their chest-bump from the World Cup. Bangladesh batsmen posted an impressive 307 with some breathtaking stroke play and gritty accumulation
Indian batting maestro Gavaskar said the Bangladesh Premier League was one of the reasons behind the team’s rise in the limited-over cricket. There was an extra edge in the India-Bangladesh encounters. The cricket pundits believe that it is because the teams feel they are on the same level. “Bangladesh may not feel as confident in the Test level as they do in the limited overs,” he told NDTV in an interview. But in the limited over games, they felt they were as good, he said.
Yet the seamy side of the match was the mid-pitch collision between Indian captain M S Dhoni, 31, and the 19-years old young new comer Mustafizur Rahman. Both players have been fined for the incident. Dhoni should be put out of countenance for his gross misconduct being a reputed player and captain. Camera clearly showed that it was intentional. Only 75 per cent fee fine is not enough. Captain M S Dhoni may now say thousand plus tales in his own defence. But the truth is that, it may sound unpolite; his behaviour was in no way gentleman like which a cricketer, a seasoned captain in particular; must possess.Now tigers are on the rise as Asian power house. They are going head and shoulders so far as one day internationals is concerned. They really played with omnipotence and flying colors to upset team India. In all intents and purposes, it was a superb display. Thanks to Musrafi’s spirited captaincy. Tigers should be under the leading ship of Mushrafi who posses the extraordinary leadership skills and spot-decision taking power and commanding personality for some more matches. He is the man who leads from the front.
The second One Day International was convincingly won by the tigers to complete series sweep. The tigers roared once again completing series win with only one match left for a much desired ‘would be’ whitewash. It is really a tremendous victory with teenaged but otherwise energetic boy Mustafizur Rahman showing majestic bowling performance (6 wickets). In the previous match he bagged 5 wickets. With this six-wicket win, Bangladesh also cemented their place in the 2017 Champions Trophy. An overjoyed Mashrafe Mortaza, who has been a part of each of Bangladesh’s five victories against India, toasted his team’s “big achievement”. For the tigers it was a landmark series against the former world cup champion who are better known for their ‘big brotherly’ ego, -thanks to ICC politics. By the time rains came India lost 8 wickets with six going to Mustafizur’s scalp.
What happened to the tigers in the third and last ODI was really disappointing. What we expected and what did happen all to our utter frustration.
This is, perhaps, what the wismen say that there is a long gap between the cup and the tongue.
Team India seemed to fight back to avoid white wash winning the last ODI by 77 runs. Chasing 317, Tigers managed to score only 240 in 47 overs. For Bangladesh Sabbir top scored with 43 while India parttime bowler Suresh Raina picked up 3 for 45 off his eight over. Mustafizur Rahman claimed man of the series with his outstanding performance (13 wickets). Tigers batting with Tamim and Sarker disheartened us. The likes of Shakib and Rahim failed after getting a start and they failed to help Bangladesh cross the rope. However, the tails put some resistance with defensive tactics looking to ball till the end. In fact team, India finally won comprehensively!
It remains to take a look at the last match with a critical bent. Some may doubt that the body language of tigers lacking in spirit and enthusiasm what previously they demonstrated in two matches it seems that team Bangladesh conceded the last match to India perhaps with hidden instruction from team management. Why Musrafi decidede to bowl first in a seemingly placid wicket? Tigers caught napping losing temperament punished by Indian bowlers and batsman. Maybe there was a deal behind the scene compelling tigers to relinquish it to team India. Even a layman could know all that passed behind the screen. I doubt there was horse trade to strike at the spirit of the tigers. In other words, horse trading was demoralizing. It demoralized the tigers both individually and collectively. Some say, BCB bosses known for their Indian cult, have this time simply paid back their indebtness to Dalmia and Cos for the favour they had shown by agreeing to play Test with Baby Tigers some 13 years back.
India apprehended that with no victory and with the spot like Banglawash it would have to face the music. So tigers were in relaxed mood not serious to winning the last encounter. Had the team management been serious tigers would have batted first to score more than 300. Even then tigers batting second came up with flamboyant style scoring quickly with Shakib and Sabbir hitting boundary. Run rate was more than asking rate. Both Shakib and Sabbir should think to stay playing strokes carefully with proper shot selection. I wonder what makes then to strike recklessly at the moment when keeping wicket in tact was more important than hitting sixes and sevens.? There was no need to throw wicket applying hit or miss method. The matter of the fact is that we started with flying colours demonstrating high spirit but finishing with a disappointing note. This is really mysterious.
Both India and Pakistan won last games (Pakistan in last test and India in last ODI). A few among cricket fans are aware of what happened and what should happen in the last matches against India and Pakistan. Both India and Pakistan were desperate to win at least one with full strength to save face. So they fielded all prominent players with strong batting lineup, best pacers and spinners. Tigers seemed to be complacent not serious at all to win all games against the guests.
Despite the humiliation tigers suffered at the last match their overall performance was scintillating and lustrous (wining two against one). Tigers’ majestic show in two matches are a source of inspiration for them. So think of bright future taking lessons from mistakes and bidding time to defeat India and other teams in near future. I suggest team management can arrange match in hard and bouncy wickets for the development of our cricket in a befitting manner. They can mull step to set up an academy for generating quick bowlers and off and leg spinners.
To be honest, it is the common truth; in a game both the teams do not win. As of rule of the game one wins, usually the better performing one of the day; unless the game is played outside the field and under the table. The thing that matters most is the display of contest till it is called a day. But when the game is prefixed, that demoralises the players both mentally and physically. We wonder, how much the Tigers might need to pay in the coming days for no fault of their own but for misdeeds of BCB bosses’ misdemeanour of pleasing BCCI this summer. It was now a matter of design and certainly not by default. To put it more simply, it was not cricket at all but cricket politics.
The tigers will have to face South Africa This month (form July 5). There is a need to go for mental preparation for facing the SA Team. Bangladesh’s present ranking in ODI enables it to participate in the forthcoming championship trophy. Even then it should try to win all ODIs in home conditions. There is a fear that if West Indies and Pakistan try to overtake Bangladesh in ODI ranking team Bangladesh would not be able to join the championship trophy. So play seriously against South Africa without any tendency to spare the last one.
Post scrit : I am deeply sorry that I failed to point to atleast three (3) positive things in this discourse. First, this time, the umpiring was much improved, better say professional and unbiased (impartial), which inter alia confirms that the umpiring at the WC Quatar Final (Indo-Bangla match) was a dark part in cricket history.
Secondly, the supporters of the home side must learn to respect the supporters of the opposite team with broaden chest. There is no scope of meanness. If you want to have a similar respectful response when you go to cheer up your own team on others’ grounds, then give honour to others, and get honoured by others that is try to master mutually respectful coexistence.
Thirdly, I would very humbly appeal to our local media teams. Support (or eneourage) the home team within the frame of professionalism. Take zooms, but never overblow the shot – it only turns the picture(s)/face(s) horrific or ghostly. Don’t push them to the Heaven, or pull them down to Hell. Please keep then dowa to the Earth as human being.
Lastly, I have no intension, whatsoever, to be a Wiseman but to remain alert as a cricket watcher.
Good luck to team Bangladesh and visiting South African Cricketers.
(Dr. Md. Shairul Mashreque, Professor of Public Administration, Chittagong University)
(Note: This article was sent to the press much earlier to yesterday’s T20 match which the visitors won by 52 runs)
