EBangladesh » Cricket

Bangladesh Twinkles

Maskwaith Ahsan — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 10:49:54 +0000

As a host every Bengali is warm and passionate, a guest is treated like an envoy from God. Even if you travel towards the heart of darkness you will be amused by the mystic side of Bengal and quite possibly as impressed as Joseph Conrad was when he asked if the flow of civilization was from Thames to Jamuna or vise versa.

Dhaka may appear slightly decked up, but the moment you move out of the capital you will be indulged by the beautiful minds of Bengalis while the other ethnic natives will welcome you with an extra flair of color and music. This is the way of Bangladesh, one of the host countries of World Cup Cricket 2011 ready to celebrate cricket-star-dust. You can feel the multicultural, secular heart of Bengal by randomly making friends on the streets or with rickshaw or taxi drivers. Bangladeshis are great believers of mutual respect even though we have been badly hurt by colonial elitism and had to fight back over and again to thwart intruders who almost destroyed our secular social fabric.

Old Dhaka will bewilder you with food entertainment, relics of classic buildings and forts, while the humor of arty craftsmen and laborers will trickle your senses. In this land Mosques, Temples, and Churches co-exist with bonds of truth, beauty and goodness. Bangladesh celebrates peaceful mysticism, we have river-lands and enough harvest to afford being philosophical. Bengali cricket tiger Sakib, too, looks at the sky when he hits a captain’s knock, as do Bengali peasants when they get bumper harvests. Those who have come across Bengali waiters or bar tenders around the globe must have surely felt their passion to make guests happy. It’s because we are taught at home to be friendly to strangers and travelers.

We look for occasions to celebrate, in 12 months we have 13 festivals. We gather at Eid, Puja, Christmas, water and color festivals etc, thus effectively marginalizing colonial attempts at religious divisions.

Dhaka is over populated, no doubt. But I hope visitors to the World Cup will not get rattled by slow traffic. The silver lining is to feel that the moment you reach the threshold of the busy capital city, your mind’s clock adjusts itself to the slow rhythm of the environs. The variety of greens, the generosity of our hills, the enchanting sounds of rivers and the feel of a timeless land all step forward to engulf you in their warmth of friendship. Bangladeshis are simple if they find simplicity in you.

You can travel around Chittagong, Cox’s Bazaar, Rangamati, Khagrachori and Bandarban. The Bay of Bengal kisses the harbor that holds the undiscovered suffering and beauty of Chittagong Hill Tracts in its arms. Aboriginals there lead a colorful life which is clearly absent in plain lands.

In Ishwardi, Pakshey and Kushtia, you can enjoy the cinematic beauty of old British towns, the generosity of Padma River, the memoirs of Nobel laureate Tagore and the shrine of mystic singer Lalon, while Rajshahi, Bogra and Rangpur are known as green cities.

Along this route you will also come across the heritage sites and museums which will give you an idea of ancient civilizations that existed in this Barendra Valley.

Khulna should be another destination where you step into the wilds of Mangrove forest Sundarban.

Nearby Barisal, a city of canals is popularly known as oriental Venice. After that you can push down towards another beach at Kuakata.

Kumilla is next to Dhaka and there the heritage site takes you into the world of another ancient civilization, and Mymen Singh towards the north is full of the allures of eco-parks, where you can confidently go for a Safari and if you are lucky you can enjoy a starry night in a green forest bungalow.

The echoes of another mystic singer Hason Raja can be heard in and around Sylhet, while Jaflong in the north provides a vantage point for fountains and the old mountainous city of Shilong. In fact every inch of river delta Bangladesh is worth celebrating.

And finally if you have visited Karl Marx’s Trier in Germany you must visit Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib’s Tungipara, the man who liberated the minds of Bengalis so that they could live without fear as envisioned by Tagore.

It’s time for South Asia!

Sazid Khan — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 09:40:42 +0000

Courtesy: desirate.com

For the last seven days my staple reading has become the world famous book by Paulo Freire’s ‘Pedagogy of the Oppressed.”. I just admire how a philosopher can make a brain storm by doing post mortem of the society. Paulo Freire is simply successful in this regard. Political history says that we, the people of this sub-continent were suppressed. The symphony of suppression was nothing but a farce. The monopoly behavior of suppression of the rulers made us parasites. Oppressors showed sadism and we the oppressed showed masochism. Our culture was brutally attacked by the oppressors. Paulo Friere anticipated that whatever the cultural attack is it kills the unique character of the nation. And the worst thing happened in this subcontinent. We never could converge rather we diverged. And this bad philosophy was a great catalyst to suppress us.

However, I think day by day we are gaining confidence to overcome these. Let us to be optimist! I do believe that now we have ample elements to be confident. And this duty is to be done by the young generation of this sub-continent. When I talk to the young people of my age I see their eyes full of dreams. Last year I met some young people of India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. They are the soldiers to make a united south Asia. Their aspiration was simply praiseworthy. This generation has the information technology. They will win the war. They will be the soldiers of democracy, discovery, peace and freedom.

This year we got the guts to arrange the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. The vanguards of the world cricket are coming to the sub continent. This is the high time to show the world, the spark of our new generation soldiers. We will show the world that suppression could not make pessimist. We will make the new south Asia. It’s time for South Asia!

Congratulation Tigers!

Kh.A.Saleque. — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 05:21:47 +0000

Congratulation Tigers

Bangladeshis have very rare occasion of celebrating national victories. But we had one yesterday which people irrespective of political belief, cast and creed celebrated. An occasion which brought Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition close together. Our cricketers gave us the moment of joy and glory.

Bengal tigers white washing full strength black caps in ODI is by any count the greatest sporting achievement of cricket loving sporting nation. The manner in which Saquib influenced tiger cabs hunted Kiwis deserves unqualified praise. Wining four matches in a row and some matches going down to the wire evidence the growing maturity and never say die attitude. The entire team gelled together in great commitment and determination. Tigers have now developed the habit of winning and will definitely act as a team to reckon with in the ensuing World Cup for all its opposition . Bangladesh won 1st, 4th and 5^th ODI after keen contest and second was a roller coaster. SaquibulHasan , the top ranked ODI all-rounder amply demonstrated his superiority with both willow and leaher scoring 211 runs with century and a fity and grabbing 11 wickets in four matches. He was man of the series. Two other youngsters SurawardyShuva and RubelHussain won man of the match accolade in two other ODI with Saquib winning the other two .

Kiwis were originally due to play a full series of test matches oDI and twenty twenty in Bangladesh. But BCB thought it wise to turn the series into 5 match ODI with an eye to the ensuing ICC World Cup preparation. Bangladesh preparation got a blow before even the series started as the flamboyant Bangladesh opener TamimIqbals delayed operation in his hands forced him out of the series. Captain and ace strike bowler Mashrafee also got injured in the very first match . We all know another key player Mohammad Ashraful was not in tune. So Bangladesh had to encounter strong Kiwis without three key players . But Saquib just returning from a successful English county stinct and Bangladesh unit after extensive preparation and hard work looked determined from the start.

For Kiwis adjusting to heat and humidity was a great challenge. Moreover rain and inclement weather at the end of the season also restricted their preparation. But a team having world class players like BredenMcCullam, Ross Taylor and Daniel Vittori can afdjust to any condition. Inspired by Saquib all round performance Bangladesh stunned Kiwis in the first ODI by 9 runs. Tigers started dreaming of winning the first ever oDI against a fdull strength major majoropposition . The second ODI was washed out without a ball being bowled. Bangladesh did not allow Kiwis to regroup in the third ODI and had a roller coaster 7 wickets victory when Young Suharawardy Shuvo bowled exceedingly well . Fourth ODI was Saquibs solo and the 5^th was a nail bitter.

No one expected in the wildest of drteams that Bangladesh will succesfuly defend a moderate target of 174 in the last ODI.But the changed Tigers were not willing to loose. In the first few overs they broke the backbone of Kwi batting grabbing 5 wickets forcing them to perspire for life. Vittori and Elliot were giving them life saving drugs and lamost pulled them out of danger zone. But determined tigers bowling and fielding like champions hit them back in time. When young Rubel knocked out Mills leg stump in the third ball of the last over Kiwis were only 4 runs away from target. Rubel got 4 wickets. Bangladesh erupted with tears of joy.

In the history of Bangladesh cricket the just concluded oDI series victory will remain as a significant milestone and future inspiration. Well dione Bangladesh. Tiger cabs are really maturing. In the past there were isolated victories. But now the team has grown in confidence and does not throw the towel .

With series against Zoimababwe in December and World Cup next year Bangladesh need to further iron its efforts. Batting will be definitely bolstered with the return of TamimIqubal. Middlre order batting still remains in a spot of bother. We will love to see a rejuvenated Ashraful back into action soon. Junaid and Roquibul did not bat well in the series. ShariarNafees is getting back his tune. He can bat at number three when Tamim gets back and opens with ImrulKayes> Bangladesh needs some late order stroke maker to make best use of batting p[ower play. Return of fully fit Mashrafee will be useful. Bangladesh also needs to improve bowling at the batting power play in death overs. Much improved Rubel and Shafiul give hope . India and South Africa are in Bangladesh Group in ICC Woreld Cup. Bangladesh beat both in 1997 World Cup. We must make specific plans against both.

The Tiger White Washing Black Caps will make Bangladeshis around the world start dreaming for greater glories. Tigers must gear up to match that.

Congratulations tigers – a job well done.

Sehwag demolishes the Proteas

admin — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:28:15 +0000

Virender Sehwag crippled the bowling attack of South Africa on the third day of the first Test held in Chennai scoring the fastest ever triple century in history with 300 runs off 278 balls. Sehwag finished the day unbeaten at 309 taking India to 468-1 in reply to South Africa’s total of 540. The Indian smashed 42 fours and five sixes before nudging the ball to square leg for his 300 off Makhaya Ntini.

The 29 year old opener scored 309 against Pakistan in 2004 and became only the third player to achieve the triple century feat beside the West Indian Legend Brian Lara and Australian Don Bradman.

Sehwag scored 300 from 278 balls surpassing Mathew Hayden’s 380 runs off 368 balls, which was a record back then for the quickest triple hundred, in 2004 against Zimbabwe.

India are in a very good position to put some pressure on the visitors with a flawless performance from Sehwag’s 292 ball innings. He had a good support from Rahul Dravid, who finished 65 not out, on a 255 run second wicket partnership.

India started the day with 82 runs on the board. Sehwag scored 213 before the first wicket alongside Wasin Jaffer, who edged Paul Harris’ delivery to Jaques Kallis in the slip giving the Proteas their only break-through of the game.

Then Sehwag was accompanied by the man known as “The Wall”, Rahul Dravid, who lived up to his name scoring 65 in 181 balls. In the process he took his career total to 9,985 runs, now only needing 15 runs to complete the 10,000 run feat and set to be only the sixth player in history to accomplish such an achievement.

The test Veteran Sehwag was at his best on his 55th Test when he scored 108 runs in India’s 133, as the Proteas bowled in hot and humid conditions typical to the sub-continent.

This was Sehwag’s consecutive three figure total following his match saving effort of 151 runs against Australia in Adelaide in January. On the fourth day of the test Sehwag is set to surpass Brian Lara’s record of 400 and India have the opportunity to have a lead over the tourists before day five.

[By Shahnawaz Alam]

Photo: Sky Sports