Amazing cricket
India captured the World Cup Cricket title in 1983 held by England. The ultimate winners played six matches at group stage, won four and lost two to finish second behind the West Indies. They lost to Australia by 101 runs and to West Indies by 66 runs. In semifinals, the eventual champions routed England by six wickets and West Indies by 43 runs even though the winners could pile up 183 runs only in their innings.
The beauty of the tournament was that none thought of India’s final triumphant in 1983 because the team’s performance in the first two editions of the competition was very poor. But the Indian players proved that anything can happen in cricket.
Pakistan annexed the eighth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy the other day, which caught the game experts by bombshell. Pakistan lost to India by 124 runs at group stage to finish second behind the eventual runners-up on run rate although finished equal on points. In semifinals, Pakistan trounced England by eight wickets and in final India by 180 runs.
Perhaps, the beauty of the game was shocking cricket world because the game itself is battered in own country. Can we hope that Bangladesh can do it someday or the other?
Khurshida Haque
Pabna
