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Download PDF Incredible and unbelievable were the most used words as the country erupted into frenzied celebration moments after the Tigers stamped a fascinating 67-run win against South Africa on Sunday.
“It was unbelievable. We beat the number one ranked team in the world and that too by a big margin,” said Adil Ahmed as he rushed towards the Teachers Student Centre (TSC) of Dhaka University, which has become a rendezvous for Tigers’ fans over the years.
” (Mohammad) Ashraful was incredible. His innings showed what he is capable of. We love Ashraful,” remarked Shamim, amidst hysterical celebration at the TSC, which turned into a human sea even before dawn broke.
Ashraful plotted the biggest upset in the World Cup with a brilliant 87 as Bangladesh recovered from a jumpy start to post a challenging 251-8.
“We also want to give full credit to our bowlers, especially the spinners. They bowled beautifully. And the fielding was superb. It will live vividly in my memory the way Shakib (Al Hasan) took the return catch of (Justin) Kemp and the direct hit of Tamim (Iqbal),” said Shamim’s friend Arif.
It was indeed a stupendous success for the Tigers. The first-ever win against the Proteas also silenced the critics, who after two heavy defeats against world champions Australia and New Zealand started to say that the Tigers’ victory over India in the first round was nothing but a fluke.
Country’s leading newspapers also hailed the victory of the national cricket team. Despite being up against a pressing deadline, all the dailies ran banner headlines and printed special editions. ” Tigers blow South Africa away”, read The Independent while The News Today read: “Teen-powered Tigers thrash Proteas.”
“Bangladesh sparkle yet again”, read the lead story of the Daily Prothom Alo. The highest circulated Bangla daily of the country also said, “the world’s best beaten and “two more to go” while referring to England and Wets Indies, the two Test teams whom Bangladesh are yet to conquer in the abridged version of the game.
“Bangladesh reach for the sky,” was how The Daily Jugantor described the Tigers’ win. Samakal read: “Tigers win like Tigers.”
While the country was over the moon, the hero Ashraful was relieved at finally bridging the gap between potential and performance with his half-century that could have easily been a hundred had he got a few more overs to bat.
“It’s a great feeling because South Africa are number one in the world,” Ashraful told AFP after the match.
“I played good cricket and I was thinking that if I stay at the wicket then I have a good chance of scoring big. I played some improvised shots because I like these shots and have practised them a lot back home.
“I can realise the mood in Bangladesh. They love cricket and it will be an unbelievable feeling for them.”
Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar said that the victory gives his team an outside chance of reaching the semifinals.
“Yes, we do but we need to work very hard in the remaining three matches.”
Bangladesh will play England (April 11), Ireland (April 15) and hosts West Indies (April 19) in their last three Super Eight matches.
“This game was important for us because we were a bit laidback. It (the win) has brought a bit of our toughness back. We have a chance now. If we had lost, we would have absolutely no chance. We do have a chance now, but we have to work really hard.
“This is a big win for Bangladesh. It is more important because it shows that we are in the Super Eights not just to participate, but to show the world we are capable of pulling off big surprises.”
Asked by AFP if Bangladesh had finally shed their minnows’ tag after wins over India and South Africa, he said: “I leave it for the people to decide.
“Our job is to play the game in the right manner. If we can keep doing like this, keep playing good cricket, I leave it to the people what they call us.”
The defeat was hard to swallow for South African captain Graeme Smith.
“It’s difficult to come up with answers after the Bangladesh defeat. We didn’t do the basics well and gave them an opportunity. They grabbed it with both hands”, said Smith after the match.
He also praised man-of-the-math Ashraful.
“His innings changed things, he set it well, worked the field well and kept us under pressure through the 50 overs from when he came into bat.”
There was however little praise back in South Africa.
“Proteas humiliated” read the headline in the Sunday Times which said the hopes of glory for the team ranked number one in the world in one-day cricket had “suffered a severe setback” as a result of their “dismal performance”.
“The defeat plunged South Africa from being among the favourites to reach the semi-finals to possibly needing to win all three of their remaining matches against the West Indies, England and New Zealand,” the paper added.
Former South African captain Kepler Wessels said Greame Smith’s team had been guilty of underestimating a Bangladesh side which has already accounted for India in the first round of the tournament in the Caribbean.
“We probably turned up and thought it was a walk in the park, something we could take for granted,” he said on the Supersport cable network.
“We left the spinner out but where are we? Sometimes we have to think on our feet,” said former chairman of selectors Omar Henry Henry, himself a left-arm spinner.
“We have gone in with a very one-dimensional approach,” agreed Wessels.
“We do not have the bowling options. We were exposed, badly exposed.”
LEADERS GREET CRICKET TEAM
President Prof Iajuddin Ahmed, Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, Speaker M Jamiruddin Sircar, Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia have congratulated Bangladesh cricket team on their stunning victory over South Africa in the World Cup Cricket at Guyana Saturday night, reports UNB.
In a message, the president hoped that the national cricket team would be able to build on their success in the days ahead by showing their skill and efficiency.
The chief adviser in a message lauded the Bangladeshi players, coach and the other officials of the cricket team and said the countrymen are exalted at the victory. “This victory has elevated Bangladesh to a higher position in the world cricket arena.”
The Awami League president in her message said: “victory of our young cricketers against the top class teams of the cricket world one after another proved that at present, Bangladesh is name of a new power in the cricket world.”
The BNP chairperson in her message said this historic victory is the fruit of long endeavour and this trend of success would continue in future too.
April 9th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
What was very sad indeed that Indian Cricket
supporters with their madly intoxication went out to their Temples to pray for the defeat of
Bangladeshi Team.
A friendly Sports spirit must be maintained in all games by both players and supporters of all kind of Sports and due regard & appreciation should be given to the deserved ones !
We Bangladeshies were well pleased that our youngsters had succedded in obtaining an honourable place in the Cricket world by defeating
A well placed team like Indian Cricket team.
Now our Boyes are stiving ahead with valiant spirit & they do deserve to maintain a golden
record in the history of Cricket games!
B.Ahmed