IS Bangladesh the new force in the World of Cricket? Yes, we are. This statement may upset some die-hard Bangladesh Cricket supporters, who believe we have been a force to reckon with for a long time. World media however may not have held such a view. To the world, Bangladesh Cricket team was a Giant-killer who would fell a giant once in a blue moon. That image has changed with the 10th consecutive win in One Day Internationals, with the series win against India opening the doors for our boys to compete in the 2017 Champions League.
While our team has kindled our hearts with memorable wins in the last decade or so, it has to be said we have not been a consistent cricket side to be considered as a world force. The famous win over the fancied Pakistan in 99 WC, the Cardiff thriller against the World Champion Australia, the 2007 WC knock-out of India – all gave us, the supporters, hope of great things to come. But those win would be overwhelmed by the sheer number of defeats along the way. We knew that success would not come automatically. We needed a lot of hard work, a lot of planning to reach our goal. Year after year, matches after matches, our supporters stood by where the number of defeats weighed heavily. Some defeats were so pronounced, it raised again and again our ability and right to compete in the global arena. It is remarkable how even after so many lows, the supporters of Bangladesh Cricket stood firm, with a loud voice to cheer the team’s feats and with abundance of love, which was perhaps the driving force towards the team forging on.
The team today looks solid. We are blessed with the #1 All-rounder in Shakib Al Hasan, whose slow left armers and decisive batting has helped us in many a game. We have in Rubel Hossain and Taskin Ahmed, two genuine fast bowlers – an essential combination for any winning team. Old hand and Captain Marvelous Mashrafe Mortaza has also found another strike bowler, and a left arm swing bowler at that, in Mustafizur Rahman, who has dazzled everyone with his World record 11 wickets in the first two ODIs he has played. The bowlers are performing so well that we can be forgiven to overlook the wealth of batting in the ever-lion-hearted Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal and company including Soumya Sarkar, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Mominul Haque, Shabbir Ahmed, Nasir Hossain and Liton Das. The interesting thing here is most of the names mentioned here came into the limelight in the last few years. We have reportedly many more young talents coming through the pipelines waiting for their chances to shine.
This year has been nothing less than brilliant for the Tigers. Qualifying for the first time to play in the quarter-finals of the World Cup (beating the English team in a crunch match), beating the touring Pakistan team to a ODI whitewash, and now this. The results of matches against the Pakistan team had given rise to quite a media storm in their own country, with former cricketers openly criticizing how far their team had fallen. Now, with the 2-0* win (with one match go) against India is raising similar stir.
In the years to come, perhaps World Cricket will recognize that the results were reflections of the rise of a new star in the World arena. In the years to come perhaps the young stars of today will be recognized as World beaters. Only time will tell. In the meanwhile, we will reflect on the marvelous feats by our Cricketers with great fondness, and wish them the best wishes for much more glorious days in the sun.
