Bangladesh’s top ten moments against India-4

There’s every chance that the upcoming series against India might just be the most successful tour that the Tigers have ever had against their South Asian neighbours.

After all, the cogwheels are churning and the Tigers have been on a roll ever since their World Cup campaign in Australia and New Zealand.

However, no matter how successful the result, the Bangladesh-India cricket anthology will never be complete without a mention of the historic five-wicket win at the Port of Spain in 2007.

The effect of that result was so enormous that that match has been referred to almost every single time India took on Bangladesh in a World Cup ever since, regardless of Bangladesh’s form; as though the ghosts of Port of Spain have been lingering ever since.

To many ex-cricketers that was the win that started it all for the Tigers in major events.

It was an emotion that was quite obvious from Habibul Bashar, the captain back then.

“The World Cups in 1999 and 2007 are both special for me. Defeating Pakistan as a new unit… that was definitely unbelievable. But personally for me, the win against India is something that I hold very high in my heart.

We knew we could beat them, but when we did… the feeling was incredible,” Bashar said while reflecting on the win.
Slow left-armer Mohammad Rafique, who scalped figures of 3 for 38 in that game remembers every detail as though it had taken place yesterday.

“I think I got [MS] Dhoni, [Rahul] Dravid and [Sourav] Ganguly,”smirked Rafique.

“That wasn’t the first time we beat India. We beat them in 2004 as well. But that win was very special because back then India was supposed to qualify for the second round… it was almost written. But we stopped that.

“We have progressed a lot in World Cups. We won three games in 2011 and then three more in 2015. But to me that win was how it all started for us. Once we got through that hurdle, we didn’t know what our limits were,” he added.

Like in almost every other victory against India, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza played an enigmatic role in 2007 as well, taking four wickets and ensuring that India were under pressure right from the start.

What was as breathtaking to watch though was the birth of Bangladesh’s youngsters, who would eventually go on to form the core of Bangladesh’s team in the coming years.

Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan, only teenagers back then, surprised the world when they dispatched a legendary Indian team with five wickets and nine balls remaining.

A couple more weeks and they will be up against the same opponents, this time though with a lot more expectations.

Kieswetter forced to retire

England and Somerset wicketkeeper/batsman Craig Kieswetter has been forced to retire due to an eye injury, he announced Friday.

The 27-year-old player was left with vision problems after breaking his nose and damaging his cheekbone while batting in a County Championship match against Northamptonshire in July last year.

"Having gone through that experience of my eye injury and everything it entailed, I feel mentally I will never again be the player that I was," Kieswetter said in a statement.

"I have had a terrific career, with plenty of ups and occasional downs, and I am calling time on my career and walking away with no regrets."

Kieswetter played in 46 ODIs and 25 Twenty20 internationals for England, but never got Test cap.

In first-class cricket and list A cricket, he averaged just under 40 with the bat, while his average in Twenty20 was just under 32. Behind the stumps he claimed 308 catches and 11 stumpings.

“I'll have so many memories of a career that spanned nine years of my life during which I have made so many friends," Kieswetter added. "See you all on the sidelines."

Bangladesh’s top ten moments against India-3

As the India series in 2004 progressed, Bangladesh's chances of doing something special gradually improved.

Mohammad Ashraful's breathtaking 158 in the second Test had laid the platform.

That was followed by a near-miss in the first ODI when Bangladesh went down to India by just 11 runs; a close result, considering the previous face-offs between the two sides.

As the Tigers travelled from Chittagong to Dhaka to play the second ODI, there was a sense of confidence growing in the team.

They knew that they had managed to stir a few nerves in their opponents in the last few weeks as for brief periods of the tour they dominated the visitors.

They could sense that they were close to achieving something special: their first win against India; their first win against a top-ranked side since their triumph against Pakistan back in 1999.

The second ODI at the Bangabandhu National Stadium though didn't start in the best of ways.

Bangladesh's experiment to promote Mohammad Rafique at the top failed and the Tigers were down and out at 88 for 5 in 22 overs.

That's when Aftab Ahmed came into the fray. The diminutive batsman knew that he had nothing to lose, unleashed his strokes and took the attack to India.

Along with a resolute Khaled Mashud at the other end, the hosts began their recovery.

Following Mashud's departure in the 30th over, Aftab, who ended up scoring 67, and Khaled Mahmud fell in quick succession and Bangladesh, despite the comeback, were in danger of getting bowled below 200.

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza entered the scene at that point of time and changed the game.

He smacked a six and three fours to light up the arena with his 39-ball 31. His blitz took the hosts to 229, which still seemed to be a below-par total.

If all the wielding with the bat wasn't enough, Mashrafe came back with the ball in his hands and removed Virender Sehwag off the very first ball after the exchange.

Feeding on the momentum that Mashrafe inserted into the game, Tapash Baisya, Khaled Mahmud and Mohammad Rafique put in stellar bowling performances, taking two wickets each.

In fact, that was one of those evenings when the Tigers performed brilliantly as a team.

Aftab and Rajin Saleh effected two run-outs while the rest was handled by the bowlers.

It was an enormous win and a much needed one, considering the immense criticism that the Tigers faced prior to that series.

Injury spoils Riyad's dream

Having been in the international arena for eight years, Mahmudullah Riyad must have gone through a number of injuries in the past. However, the fracture that he sustained on his left index finger during catching practice on Thursday in Mirpur probably hurt like never before.

With an astounding performance in the World Cup and a century in the final round of the recently concluded Bangladesh Cricket League, the 29-year-old was arguably enjoying the best phase of his cricketing career. And it's not the best feeling when you are compelled to take a break, due to a mere mishap, during such a phase.

Speaking to The Daily Star yesterday, an understandably disappointed Riyad lamented not being able take part in the India series.

"I feel really, really bad. Honestly… I can't explain my disappointment in words," said Riyad.

"I had plenty of dreams regarding this series. I was preparing myself accordingly. I didn't even imagine that such a thing could have happened. I was obviously disappointed immediately after the injury. I was however hoping to be able to play the ODIs at least. But that too was not to be," he added.

While Riyad has been deemed out of the India series, the good news is that he is most likely to return in time for the series against South Africa which begins on July 5.

"The doctor said that this was an incomplete fracture and that it had not affected my joint. So it is expected to heal faster than usual. I will start cycling in two to three days and then begin my rehabilitation.

"At the moment I am looking forward to the South Africa series. I am confident that I can recover in time for those matches," Riyad said.

Following his elevation to number four, Riyad has averaged a brilliant 119.25 for Bangladesh in ODIs with two centuries and three 50-plus scores. While he did have a disappointing series against Pakistan, he fought back with a century at Mirpur in the BCL.

"He will definitely be missed. He has been in good form and he would have been handy for the India series. But there's not much we can do now. I am sure his replacement will do well. The kind of confidence that the team has right now, any player who replaces Riyad will give his best," said chief selector Faruque Ahmed.

'All my focus is on June 10'

Opener Tamim Iqbal admitted that he was 'slightly worried' upon learning of his latest medical development. On Thursday it was revealed that the left-hander's latest MRI report suggested that there could be a cyst in his knee. The BCB's sports physician however, stated that the condition wouldn't affect Tamim's sporting activities and that it wasn't serious.

The left-hander told The Daily Star yesterday that while he was anxious regarding the development, he won't let it interfere with his batting in the India series which begins on June 10.

"I had an MRI when I was in Malaysia recently and sent the reports to Doctor David Young in Australia. He informed me regarding a new finding in my knee. He called it Ossifying Fibroma. He said that it won't affect my game but asked me to remove the cyst whenever there is a gap in the schedule. He also said that there might be some pain in my knee but that I would have to bear that pain and play.

"So right now, I am completely focused on June 10. I am working on my rehab schedule. My leg is doing well… I feel good. I can't say what will happen in the match, but at this moment there is no problem," Tamim said.

"It's only natural for me to be a little worried. I am a little anxious. But I am sure that when the India series begins, I won't be thinking of this issue," he added.

When asked if he had mentally planned a date to undergo an operation and remove the suspected cyst, Tamim said, "We get very few opportunities to play Test cricket. I want to play this entire season. I can't miss these chances. I can only take a decision after this year is over. But yes, if I feel uncomfortable on the field, then there's nothing that I can do. I'll have to take the required measures then."

Tamim had surgery on his left knee in December last year and then he suffered an injury to his right knee in the Bangladesh Cricket League's one day tournament before the home series against Pakistan. That was the reason that the southpaw was asked to skip the final round of the BCL's four-day competition.

The left-hander was Bangladesh's star player in the last series against Pakistan. He scored two consecutive centuries in the ODI series and became only the second Bangladeshi to score a double hundred during the Test series.

‘মাশরাফি রিকশায় কেন?’

অনেক বড় ঘটনাই ঘটতে পারত। দেশের মানুষের আশীর্বাদেই কিনা, অল্পের জন্য বেঁচে গেছেন মাশরাফি বিন মুর্তজা। মিরপুরের শেরেবাংলা স্টেডিয়ামের কাছেই বাসা হওয়ায় বৃহস্পতিবার রিকশা করেই অনুশীলনে আসছিলেন বাংলাদেশের ওয়ানডে অধিনায়ক। পথে একটি বেপরোয়া বাস পেছন থেকে ধাক্কা দেয় মাশরাফিকে। সতর্ক হয়ে রিকশায় বসার কারণে নিজেকে কিছুটা হলেও সামলাতে পেরেছিলেন। কিন্তু আঘাত তিনি পেয়েছেনই। মাশরাফির এই দুর্ঘটনাটা যেন খেলোয়াড়দের জন্য এক ধরনের সতর্কবার্তাই। জাতীয় ক্রিকেট দলের সাবেক অধিনায়ক ও বাংলাদেশের প্রথম টেস্ট সেঞ্চুরিয়ান আমিনুল ইসলামের চোখে অন্তত তা-ই। তিনি মাশরাফির রিকশা ভ্রমণের ব্যাপারেও নিজের বিরক্তি ও বিস্ময় চেপে রাখতে পারেননি।

প্রথম আলোর সঙ্গে এক আলাপচারিতায় তিনি বলেন, ‘ভারতের মতো একটি গুরুত্বপূর্ণ সিরিজের আগে খেলোয়াড়দের একটু সতর্ক থাকাটাই বাঞ্ছনীয়। দুর্ঘটনার ওপর আমাদের কারও কোনো হাত না থাকলেও সেদিন মাশরাফির রিকশায় করে অনুশীলনে আসাটা আমি মেনে নিতে পারছি না। সে হয়তো সরল মনেই রিকশায় চেপেছিল। বাসা কাছে বলেই গাড়ি ব্যবহার করতে চায়নি সে। কিন্তু দুর্ঘটনা তো একটা ঘটেই গেল। গাড়িতে সে অন্তত চোটটা এড়াতে পারত। মাশরাফির মনে রাখা উচিত, সে আমাদের গুরুত্বপূর্ণ সম্পদ।’

মাশরাফির এই ঘটনা আমিনুলকে ফিরিয়ে নিয়ে গেছে ১৮ বছর আগের এক সকালে। ১৯৯৭ সালে আইসিসি ট্রফিতে খেলতে যাওয়ার আগে ক্যাম্প হচ্ছিল সাভারের বিকেএসপিতে। সে সময় বিকেএসপিতে সুযোগসুবিধার ঘাটতি থাকার কারণে অনেক সিনিয়র খেলোয়াড়ই সেখানে থাকতে চাইতেন না। ব্যক্তিগত গাড়ি নিয়ে সেখানে যাওয়াটা ছিল খুব স্বাভাবিক ঘটনা। ক্রিকেটে পেশাদারির ছোঁয়াও তখন ঠিক সেভাবে ছিল না। আইসিসি ট্রফির মাস খানেক আগে বিকেএসপিতে একটা দুর্ঘটনা ঘটেছিল। সেই দুর্ঘটনায় আহত হয়েছিলেন আমিনুলসহ আরও দু-একজন ক্রিকেটার।
স্মৃতি হাতড়ে আমিনুল বললেন, ‘মণি ভাইয়ের (এনামুল হক) গাড়ি সেদিন আমাকে আঘাত করেছিল। অটো গিয়ারের গাড়িতে তিনি কোনো একটা গড়বড় করে ফেলেছিলেন। আমি কোমরে প্রচণ্ড ব্যথা পেয়েছিলাম। একটা পর্যায়ে মনে হচ্ছিল আমি বুঝি আর আইসিসি ট্রফিটা খেলতে পারব না। অথচ সতর্ক হলে খুব সহজেই এড়ানো যেত ওই দুর্ঘটনাটি। নিজের গাড়ি চালিয়ে সাভারে অনুশীলনে যাওয়া আর ওখান থেকে ফেরার ব্যাপারটি ছিল বেশ ঝুঁকিপূর্ণ।’

আইসিসির সভাপতি জহির আব্বাস!

জহির আব্বাসকে আইসিসি সভাপতি পদে মনোনয়ন দিল পাকিস্তান ক্রিকেট বোর্ড (পিসিবি)। আইসিসির সভাপতি পদের প্রার্থিতা থেকে নাজাম শেঠি সরে দাঁড়ানোর ঘোষণা দেওয়ার এক দিন পর পরশু পিসিবি বেছে নিল পাকিস্তানের এই কিংবদন্তি ব্যাটসম্যানকে।
২০১৬ সাল থেকে সভাপতি পদের জন্য সাবেক ক্রিকেটারদের মনোনয়ন দেওয়ার প্রস্তাব উঠেছিল আইসিসির সর্বশেষ সভায়। নাজাম শেঠি ও পিসিবির সিদ্ধান্তের ফল, এ মাসের শেষে বারবাডোজে আইসিসির সভায় অনুমোদিত হলেই আগামী ১ জুলাই থেকেই আনুষ্ঠানিকতার সভাপতি পদে বসছেন সাবেক কোনো ক্রিকেটার।
‘এশিয়ান ব্র্যাডম্যান’ হিসেবে পরিচিত পাকিস্তানের সাবেক অধিনায়ক জহির আব্বাস সর্বশেষ নাজাম শেঠির উপদেষ্টা হিসেবেই কাজ করেছেন পিসিবিতে। সভাপতি মনোনয়নে পিসিবির আলোচনায় ছিলেন আরও দুই সাবেক অধিনায়ক মাজিদ খান ও আসিফ ইকবালও। ৬৭ বছর বয়সী আব্বাস টেস্টে ১২টি ও ওয়ানডেতে ৭টি সেঞ্চুরি করেছেন। প্রথম শ্রেণির ক্রিকেটে সেঞ্চুরির সেঞ্চুরি করা একমাত্র এশীয় ব্যাটসম্যানও জহির আব্বাস।
বাংলাদেশের আ হ ম মুস্তাফা কামালের পদত্যাগের পর থেকেই আইসিসি সভাপতির পদটা শূন্য রয়েছে।