When cricket takes center stage in Bangladesh’s sports

Bangladesh has plenty of memorable moments in its cricket history but what was prelude to that successes was the ICC Championship trophy, which they won preciously 23 years ago on this day – 13th April in 1997.

Number 13 might be unlucky but for Bangladesh it’s a lucky number as the country saw a watershed moment in its history on this very day in 1997.

As Hasibul Hossain Shanto made the winning run and ran like mad towards the dressing room, a slice of history is created in the Kilat Kelab Ground, in Kualalampur in Malaysia. The ground is now known as Tenaga National Sports Complex.

Bangladesh had already ensured the 1999 World Cup when they beat Scotland to move into the final. But win against Kenya is something which every cricketers in that team savoured.

The country wants to make a statement by winning the trophy, said the then captain Akram Khan whose groundbreaking 67 runs knock against the Netherlands after the side being reduced to 15-4, kept Bangladesh rolling into the tournament.

If Akram couldn’t have played that knock, Bangladesh certainly wouldn’t have sealed semifinal spot and ensured the 1999 World Cup in England.

Bangladesh won five out of five in the first round before saw the inclement weather washed out their game against Ireland. That made the things complicated as the game against the Netherlands became a must-win match for them.

Akram said after that groundbreaking three-wicket victory against the Netherlands, they set the bar high and wanted to become champions.

“The memory of the victory against the Netherlands is still vivid. Such was tensed match and such was nerve-wrecking match that sometimes it felt we couldn’t take more of that. But by the grace of almighty I could play the most memorable knock of my life and took the side to the semifinal,” Akram said here today.

“Afterwards, we set the bar high for us. We knew if we could play to our potential we can beat Scotland in the semifinal. But there is some tension also because we reached so close quite a few times to ensure the World Cup berth earlier but simply we couldn’t do that. However everyone was determined this time around and we could beat Scotland to ensure that we will be playing the World Cup for the first time.”

Bangladesh beat Scotland by 72 in the semifinal to set a clash against Kenya in the final.

“But obviously our goal was to win against Kenya and lift the trophy, for which we were craving for.”

The continuous rain pushed the final game into the reserve day after Kenya racked up 241-7 thanks to a sublime century from Steve Tikolo.

During that period, the kind of score was bigger than anticipation. However Bangladesh got a revised target of 166 from 25 overs, which by any means was very tough matter.

But they showed a never-say-attitude and every batsman made a useful contribution with some aggressive batting to help Bangladesh win it by two wickets.

“It was a watershed moment when Shanto picked up the winning run. But we had the belief that we could win it despite we are down at 151-8. Shanto and Pilot kept the nerve and won us it in the last ball,” Akram recalled the memory.

The ICC Trophy winning team was given a grand reception in the city’s Manik Mea Avenue where tens of thousands people were present to give them the hero’s welcome.

Sheikh Hasina Government who took the country’s charge for the first time set a well laid plan to pave the way for the huge success, Akram said.

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was very sincere and gave everything what we need to win the trophy,” he said.

The success had major impact in Bangladesh’s sports also as it overtook Football to become the country’s No.1 sport and as of now continued its No.1 status.

“Football was the most popular game in Bangladesh but when we became the champions in the ICC Trophy it changed the syntax of country’s sport. Cricket is still now the No.1 sports of Bangladesh,” he concluded.

BSS/ALM