বাংলাদেশের ক্রিকেট বিশেষ-অজ্ঞ

কিছুদিন আগে বাংলাদেশের প্রথম একদিনের আন্তর্জাতিক ম্যাচ নিয়ে ফেসবুকের একটি পোস্ট  ( https://www.facebook.com/sabbir.emon.31/posts/10153317187136803?fref=nf ) আমাদের দেশের লোকজন বেশ শেয়ার দিচ্ছিলেন। পোস্টটি পড়লাম এবং পড়ার পর আমি লিপু ভাইকে এই বিষয়ে জিজ্ঞেস করলাম। উনি আমাকে খুবই সুন্দর একটি উত্তর দিলেন। উনার কাছে অনুমতি নিয়ে আমি উনার রিপ্লাই টা আপনাদের সাথে শেয়ার করছি,

“Brother still we talk about 1986 Asia cup in many places for a few reasons and one of the best memories of mine as it was a well organized tournament. We went by Air and a bus was almost full time for the team as team's gets currently. Since India didn't take part so to make the tournament successful our participation was very important.

In 1985 though we played against an almost-Pakistan-national-team at home under the name of Omer Quraishi XI but it was true that we were a bit excited specially against Pakistan. Imran was leading the bowling attack with Wasim Akram, Zakir Khan, Mohsin Kamal, Abdul Kader and young Left arm, promising seamer Salim Jafar if I am not wrong. One of the local organizers helped us to buy few chest guards which most of the batsmen tried for the first time with discomfort.

Since, the India team was not there Pakistan was very much sure about to play the final as as well to win the trophy. As far as I remember, while we were practicing at the NCC ground after lunch session, all of a sudden we noticed that the Sri Lankan team also turned up there to have a short session for some specific drill just after losing the match badly against Pakistan an hour ago.

In those days we had no coach with our team while we used to travel to minimize the cost. Neither were there any match referees as well. Yes, it is correct that it makes me surprise that while we just started walking for the toss, all of a sudden Imran khan proposed me what is the point walking so long up to the pitch but do the toss here? I was not ready to hear something like that from him and I did not make any argument with him that is also true. Toss session was not part of Live telecast too. But Imran never said that what is the point of doing toss against our team and those are all gossips rather don't hesitate to take the advantage of the full day session match to bowl first. If you look at the scorecard ( http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/65672.html)  then you will understand that who has bowled how many overs. There was a culture in those days and which is that the par timers used to request the captain to bowl if the team is in commanding position as well team rules was not strong like nowadays, so if the captain was not happy to any player he used to implement his rules in many ways if situation permits.

I am not sure that commentators made this kind of comments on Air. The magnificent part of this tournament was since we could not play too many matches on that tournament organizers given us the hospitality to stay more 3/4 nights on their cost so that we can see the final and gain some experience and we have seen how underdog Sri Lanka fought back and won the Cup".

লিপু ভাইয়ের রিপ্লাইটি পড়ে আপনারাই বিচার করুন যে এই ধরনের পোস্ট শেয়ার করার মত কতটুকু যোগ্যতা রাখে? কাউকে যদি ছোট করতেই হয় তাহলে একটু স্টাডি করে হেয় করা উচিৎ নয় কি? ফেসবুকের বেশীরভাগ পোস্টই ভুল তথ্য এবং হেটরেডই ভরপুর। পোস্ট গুলো কে বা কারা শেয়ার করছেন সেটা একটু বিবেচনা করুন এবং সেটির ইনফরমেশন গুলো নিজে, নিজে বিচার করে তারপর লাইক কিংবা শেয়ার দিন, তাই না? আপনারা কেন এদেরকে সেলেব্রিটি বানান? এরা খেলার খ-ও বুঝে না বরং আমাদের আবেগ নিয়ে খেলা করে।

ধন্যবাদ

ফয়সাল সিজার 

An open letter to Soumya Sarkar after his coming of age knock

Dear Soumya,

I have been a fan of yours for the last three years. During the Under-19 World Cup in Australia in 2012, you caught my attention and since then your progress has been a matter of great interest for me. I always used to gather updated information about your domestic performance and after talking to people who have witnessed you play, my eagerness to watch your style of stroke-play increased immensely. As because, according to them, you use the cricket bat like the brush of a painter.

I kept waiting to watch your batting on TV and finally my wait was over when you made your international debut against Zimbabwe last year at Mirpur in the fifth and final one-day international (ODI). You came to bat at number three and dispatched four boundaries to script a fluent 20-run knock. Four of those boundaries were wristy and sweetly timed. It seemed that your wrists were wrapped with silk. Your stay at the crease was short but very brief and conveyed me a message that a spectacle is about to unleash his artistry to the cricketing world.

I was delighted when you were picked in the World Cup squad and got a chance to play in the very first match against Afghanistan. And immediately, your batting style caught the attention of one of cricket’s most prolific writers Christian Ryan, who wrote, “ A shot by a young batsman, when it is the first time you have really noticed him, can do that. It is just a shot. But we can spy something in a shot greater than the sum of that shot's actual parts. There is a glimmer that comes to us in a moment of high excitement and no doubt. No way possible could this shot have been more perfectly played, and though it is not the shot we'd expected, given the particular ball bowled, it is unquestionably the right shot”.

Very few batsmen can make a fan believe that he’s born to achieve greatness,  very few batsmen can give a fan the glimpses of an artist and very few batsmen can time the ball and use the wrists so efficiently at such a young age. Over the years, Bangladesh did gift the cricketing world some exciting batters, but sadly, most of them had been inconsistent and faded away like the early morning dew. Among those exciting willow-wielders, there were hardly any artists who could trigger charm among those critics who relish witnessing spectacles. Thankfully, you have  emerged from Bangladesh, whose artistry is expected to amaze and charm the purists.

Till the third ODI against Pakistan, your short-and-brief knocks entertained everyone, but to make a mark in international cricket, a batsman needs to be hungry for big scores. Your promising knocks tend to meet a sad end because you used to get carried away after smothering consecutive boundaries which dents your focus and make a mess of the footwork. Adjustment of your focus was needed and the zest to spend more time at the crease was the order of the day.

It didn’t take enough time to realize your weakness and it was evident in the third ODI against Pakistan where you clobbered a fluent hundred to help Bangladesh to essay the historic Banglawash. You hinted that you are all set to graduate to the next level. You exhibited composure alongside aggression, which is much needed to survive in this topsy-turvy world of international cricket.

 At present, you are the talk of the town and Bangladesh’s print and electronic media have tagged you as a star. Such things are quite natural in Bangladesh and for which you need to be cautious. You should keep your feet on the ground and never let success get into your head. Celebrity status must not deter your focus from cricket and the less you interact with the non-cricketing people, the better it will be for you.

Soumya, you are not only an asset for Bangladesh cricket, but also for world cricket as well. This is just the beginning for you and you have a long way to go. At present, world cricket lacks delicate stroke-makers and you’re one of them. It will be sad if you fade away.

So be careful while handling the successes and celebrity status.

With regards,

A Bangladesh cricket fan.

Note: This article has been published in Sportskeeda on 24/04/2014 An open letter to Soumya Sarkar after his coming of age knock

With Thanks

Faisal Caesar 

Tamim Iqbal has answered his harsh critics in style

For the last couple of years, Tamim Iqbal’s bat almost forgot to score runs. Most of the times, he was dismissed cheaply and at times, the manner of his dismissals were quite childish. Tamim Iqbal tried to change his style, but still it didn’t help. The period of his lean patch continued to prolong and it dented his confidence big time. His place in the team came under threat and it seemed that his career would meet a premature end.

Tamim Iqbal became the prime target of a section of the Bangladesh cricket fans. His lean-patch became a matter of joke in the social media of Bangladesh. In each match Tamim failed, his harsh critics trolled him and on some occasions, they used to cross their limits. In an interview, Tamim said that some of the fans abused his wife and family over the phone. According to the fans, Tamim was always considered in the team because of the current chief selector Akram Khan who is his relative.

Poor form, indecent behaviours from the fans, injuries, an emergence of promising talents like Soumya Sarkar and Rony Taluder and the blame for the support of his relative had vilified Tamim. Life was not rosy for Tamim Iqbal.

To overcome the tough times, a person needs to work harder with enough determination and grit to change his fortune. Tamim never gave up hope, but kept on working hard in the nets under the guidance of coach Chandika Hathurusingha. He worked harder on his shortcomings and decided to spend more time at the crease without changing the style of his batting. Tamim’s hard work has paid off. At the moment, his lean patch has been laid to rest.

After a successful World Cup campaign, Bangladesh’s first assignment was against Pakistan. It was a new-look Pakistan team and Bangladesh started the series as favourites. Just before the start of the series, there were rumours among the common public that Rony Talukdar and Soumya Sarkar might be seen opening against Pakistan. But, as Bangladesh went out to bat in the first one-day international (ODI), Tamim was seen walking along with Soumya to open the batting.

In the first ODI, Pakistani left-arm pace bowlers had tested Tamim. But the lad from Chittagong didn’t lose his temper and committed silly like the past. Rather, he spent more time at the crease to adapt to the situation and as soon as he gained his rhythm and confidence, gradually, the old Tamim Iqbal was evident.

There were two flat sixes in the 28th over off Haris Sohail’s bowling which hinted that he was in the mood of dishing out something big. Then there were those beautifully crafted drives through the cover and point region with authority which were a treat to watch. A polished knock of 132 off 135 balls was scripted and it was his first hundred since 2013. Tamim was ecstatic after reaching the milestone and his Cristiano-Ronaldo-like-celebration indicated how much it meant to him.

Bangladesh broke the jinx against Pakistan in ODIs after sixteen years, thanks to brilliant hundreds from Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim. Mushfiq was adjudged the man of the match, but according to him it should have been Tamim as because Mushfiq felt that, Tamim’s knock had a bigger impact on posting Bangladesh’s highest ever score in ODIs.

In the second ODI, Tamim’s batting display was a matter of agony for the Pakistani attack. He punished the Pakistani attack with a rare disdain. His manner of stroke-play was too brutal to disturb the length of the Pakistani attack and all of a sudden the second ODI had transformed into a Tamim-Iqbal-show. He brought up his second consecutive hundred of the series and ensured an easy win and the series for Bangladesh.

Players like Tamim Iqbal are born once in a generation. It was sad to see the way, such a champion batsman had been treated harshly by some of the Bangladesh cricket fans. One should not forget that form is temporary but class is permanent and, of course, a true cricket fan always realizes the true worth of their cricketers and criticize constructively. A true cricket fan always supports their cricketers during the tough times and that’s what every cricketer expects from their fans.

Note: This article has been published in Sportskeeda on 20/04/2015 Tamim Iqbal has answered his harsh critics in style

Thank You

Faisal Caesar 

Best chance for Bangladesh to break the jinx against Pakistan

May 31, 1999 was one of the most historic moments in Bangladesh cricket’s history. They were playing their first ever World Cup and stunned the hot-favourites Pakistan in a dominating manner. That win changed the complexion of Bangladesh cricket. The following year they were awarded the Test status and a new journey started. Even though they haven’t been that good in Test Cricket, they have often competed well in the one day arena.

They have scripted victories more than once against teams like India, Sri Lanka, England, West Indies and New Zealand in ODIs, but against Pakistan, their performance remains dismal. So far, Bangladesh and Pakistan have met each other 32 times in ODIs and since that epic win at Northampton sixteen years ago, the Tigers have not yet beaten Pakistan.

But the last 3 matches, all in the Asia Cup, clashes against Bangladesh were not a mere formality anymore for Pakistan as the Tigers fought hard till the end and made them sweat. Pakistan prevailed in those thrilling encounters, but Bangladesh earned enough accolades for their fighting spirit.

They are yet to break the jinx against their Asian neighbours and on April 17, 2015 the Tigers will have another opportunity to break that.

Best time to break the jinx

Bangladesh will play a three-match one-day series against Pakistan from Friday and considering the current situation, the Bangladesh team is in a better state than Pakistan. It has the perfect blend of youthful talent and experience. Over the years, this team has gelled very well under the coach Chandika Hathurusinghe. The success in the World Cup has rekindled the lost self-belief among the boys and they have all the ingredients to start as the favourites in the upcoming ODI series.

Bangladesh’s top and middle-order batsmen are in good form and in the course of time they have developed the ideal temperament to face the best of bowling attacks. It is expected that the current batting line up will be able to handle the likes of Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Saeed Ajmal and co with authority. Meanwhile, pace bowlers like Taskin Ahmed and Rubel Hossain have the skill and pace to test the very best in the business while the guile of Shakib Al Hasan and Arafat Sunny will give the bowling attack the much needed venom.

Whereas, Pakistan have arrived in Dhaka without the experienced players like Shahid Afridi, Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan and young batting sensation Shoaib Maqsood. The team will be led by the new captain Azhar Ali, who was not even in the World Cup squad. So far, he has played only 14 ODIs and his last ODI was in 2013.  As usual, Pakistan’s bowling attack is highly potent, but the batting order lacks experience and it will depend heavily on the expertise of Mohammad Hafeez. This young batting line-up will be tested by the Bangladeshi bowlers who are brimming with confidence at present.

Overall, the Bangladesh team is a very balanced one. For the first time in their history, they will start a one-day series against a top side as the favourites. This is their best chance to break the jinx against Pakistan. The time has come for scripting  victories rather than losing close encounters.

Note: This article has been published on Sportskeeda in 16/04/2015 Best chance for Bangladesh to break the jinx against Pakistan

Thank You

Faisal Caesar

Richie Benaud: Tribute from a Bangladesh cricket fan

 Cricket hardly had any space in Bangladesh during my school days. Soccer used to rule the rooster here. Cricket only existed in Bangladesh Television (BTV) for one hour. During Sundays,  BTV used to telecast one hour of cricket highlights. I and my father sat together and enjoyed that one-hour watching cricket.

BBC Test match classics, the Austral-Asia Cup,  Sharjah Cup and World Series Cricket were mostly telecast by BTV. The matches at Sharjah were staggering, but dull commentary and the monotonous camera work used to kill the charm. But hey, the BBC Test match classics and World Series Cricket came to the rescue.

The TV  footages were sharp,  attractive and the commentary was so lively and articulate that the charming factor never diminished for a second. Especially, the World Series Cricket had won my heart. It had all the ingredients to attract a school going child to love cricket – beautiful stadiums, coloured clothing, day-night cricket, stump-camera and stump-microphone, sweet sound of the bat connecting the ball was clearly heard,  the brilliance of the television cameras from different angles of the ground and the commentators. 

One commentator used to utter words like “...and he has done’em”, “first cherry and gone”, “bowled’em round his legs with a jaffa” with a sharp wit and distinctive voice.

I hardly missed the World Series Cricket highlights because I didn’t wish to miss that person’s commentary. While playing cricket all alone in my room, I tried to do commentary like that silver-haired, intelligent-looking guy who always showed up on TV before the start of a game in World Series Cricket. But it was never an easy task to imitate that person. I asked my father the name of that commentator. My father replied that his name was Richie Benaud.

In the course of time, many things changed: Bangladesh gained Test status,  cricket had overtaken soccer as the premium sport in Bangladesh, satellite television networks stamped its authority all over the country, live cricket was not a big thing anymore, internet access became easier and it became easier for me to know more about cricket. I fell in love with cricket because of Imran Khan and the depth of love increased because of Richie Benaud’s commentary. Imran had retired in 1992, but Benaud was still there to keep me addicted to cricket. 

During my Secondary School Certificate (SSC)  exam in 1997, Benaud's commentary and tri-nation tournament Downunder were a big refreshment. During my Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) exam, Benaud’s commentary and World Cup 1999 used to kill the boredom at best while the hectic days as a Medical graduate used to receive lighter moments by listening to Benuad’s commentary during the Australian summer. Benaud had been a part and parcel of my school, college and medical life. He was a must for me.   

But suddenly, the voice of  Benaud will never be heard. He has left this world once and for all. Death is the crude fact of life and none can avoid it. But some deaths are very hard to accept. Cricket has lost its voice and guardian and I have lost the voice to keep boredom at bay.

I always wished to listen to Benaud’s commentary in a Test match where Bangladesh will play against Australia in Australia. I wished to listen to his thoughtful comments about Tamim Iqbal, Mashrafe Mortaza and Shakib Al Hasan. The one-off Test match between Bangladesh and Australia was not telecast here in 2003 and since then, Bangladesh has never toured Australia for a Test series and at present my wish will never be fulfilled as Benaud is no more among us.

Note: This article has been posted at Cricketsoccer on 14/04/2015 Richie Benaud: Tribute from a Bangladesh cricket fan

Rest in Peace, sir!