Pakistan posted a mammoth total in 45 overs, but failed to
skittle out the Tigers, who managed to end their innings at 111 for 6. It was a
big win for Pakistan, but the Bangladeshis were happy that the strong bowling
attack of Pakistan could not rattle them.
It was Wahidul Ghani’s one and only international match. He
did feature in domestic cricket, but not with great distinction. After retiring
from active cricket, he took the responsibility of grooming youngsters in his
coaching school named “Ankur”.
For Ghani, cricket is like an oxygen and he is extremely
passionate about the game. He wished to inject the same passion among the boys
of Bangladesh at grass root level without fees – a rarity in Bangladesh and
thus, kept on working with them.
For the young guns of his coaching school, he was the father
figure and a symbol of hard work and discipline. Ghani’s honest and hard
efforts reaped a rich harvest as one of his students hit the headlines on
September 8, 2001.
It was one of the most memorable moments in the history of
Bangladesh cricket. Bangladesh’s journey in Test cricket commenced, and surely,
Ghani was one of those persons who witnessed the Test first day’s proceedings
with misty eyes.
Like the passionate Bangladeshi sports lovers of the 80s and
90s, Ghani also firmly believed, one day Bangladesh will also feature in the
Test arena along with the big boys and script historical moments. Ghani’s dream
came true and the Test status of Bangladesh gave him a wonderful opportunity to
showcase the talents from his school.
One of his boys didn’t disappoint at all.
The rise of Mohammad Ashraful
Mohammad
Ashraful was just 11 years old when he was selected for Wahidul Ghani’s camp.
Ghani’s cricketing eyes were sharp and at first sight, he could realize,
Ashraful is a special talent and a bit more nurturing would galvanize him into
a diamond.
Ashraful
featured in the Under 19 World Cup held in January 2000 where he was mocked for
his frail and childish physique and even the local experts did the same. But
Ghani infused enough confidence in Ashraful and kept on backing him.
Bangladesh
traveled to Sri Lanka in 2001 to play their second match of the Asian Test
Championship. They were beaten comprehensively by Pakistan at Multan and the
outing at Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo was widely predicted as a hopeless
mismatch. The Tigers had to digest a lot of criticisms for their lack of
ability to fight and for which, their Test status was questioned by many.
The
critics became more vociferous when the Bangladeshi batting folded for just 90
on a bone dry track and they dragged their swords out to slice the team when
the Sri Lankan batsmen made a joke of the innocuous Bangladeshi medium pacers.
The Lankans posted 555 for 5 in 103.3 overs and declared the innings on day 2.
Bangladesh’s
start of the second innings was as usual shaky. At stumps on day 2, they were
100 for 4 with Aminul Islam and Mohammad Ashraful at the crease.
Mohammad
Ashraful struck a composed 26 in the first innings and with the bat, he looked
more assured than most of his senior colleagues. A promising innings could not
shape up into something big, but it hinted at bigger things to come.
Mohammad
Ashraful was batting on 4 and started the day 3 with a single off Ravindra
Pushpakumara. In Pushpakumara’s next over, he was watchful and didn’t take any
runs. At the other end, the experienced Aminul Islam, weathered the storm of
Chaminda Vaas and shielded Ashraful.
But
when Ashraful’s turn came to face Vaas, he greeted the wily customer from Sri
Lanka with a boundary.
For
a 17-year old, it was easy to lose cool and play rash strokes, but Ashraful
curbed his attacking instincts for a while and relied on strike rotation and
occupying the crease. But then unleashed it against the best spinner in the
world during that time, Muttiah Muralitharan.
In
the first innings, Murali drowned the Bangladeshi batsmen at the Indian Ocean,
but in the second innings, his might was challenged.
Ashraful
came down the wicket and charged him bravely by using his feet with authority
to essay crisp strokes. He could pick Murali’s doosra and orthodox deliveries
very well and time the strokes better than most of the contemporary batsmen of
the world during that time. His ability to play the ball late by pivoting on
the back foot and execute the pull on the back and drive on the front foot at
such a young age, astonished many.
What
was expected to be an early finish before lunch turned into a fascinating
contest between the best spinner in the world and an unknown 16-year old boy
from Bangladesh who was out there to salvage pride for his battered team.
If
Murali planned to deliver a doosra , Ashraful would come down the ground and
whack it over mid on. If Murali turned the ball from wide of off to middle and
leg, Ashraful would pull-sweep it over midwicket and if the doosras cut middle
and leg and moved towards off, Ashraful would execute the late and square cut.
But
for a single moment, his composure was not hampered. The boy played the role of
a sheet anchor to swell the Bangladeshi total and stitched productive
partnerships with Aminul Islam and Naimur Rahman.
A
boundary off Chaminda Vaas brought up his hundred and he became the youngest
ever player to score a Test century on debut, beating a 30-year-old record,
which had been set by Pakistan batsmen Mushtaq Mohammad (17 years 82 days)
against India at Delhi in 1960/61.
A
lapse of concentration led to Ashraful’s demise, but his four-hour 114
overshadowed Murali’s feats. Murali was adjudged man of the match, but he was
so impressed with Ashraful’s batting that he generously donated his share of
the cheque for the award to the wonder kid from Bangladesh.
Mohammad
Ashraful had made Wahidul Ghani proud. His hard work had paid off. And above
all, 15 years ago, Ashraful gave the Bangladeshis the option to dream again.
The fans were disgusted by the spineless efforts in the last one year or so and
that fighting knock from him, infused new hope to move forward.
Certainly,
Bangladesh cricket has come a long way, but sadly, the story of Ashraful could
not be as glorious as it was supposed to be.
Note:
This article was published at Sportskeeda on 8/09/2016 Mohammad Ashraful, the 17-year old boy from Bangladesh who challenged the might of Muttiah Muralitharan
Thank
You
Faisal
Caesar
No comments:
Post a Comment