A very inspired tiger squad firing with all cylinders comprehensively white washed Zimbabwe in their mission soul searching winning the Bashundhara Cement test series 3-0.
Once the cautious team tigers got the better of the visitors in the closely fought first test at Dhaka on a very difficult surface by narrow margin of three wickets it recovered its confidence. Then on everything went according to plan .The team worked like a well-oiled machine. Zimbabweans were blow way by the very impressive Bangladesh unit at Khulna and Chittagong in one way traffic. Bangladesh completed the series white wash winning the Chittagong Test by 186 runs in the last session of the last day.
Well done Mushfique Army. Congratulations from the bottom of our heart. Year 2014 started disastrously for Bangladesh Cricket. It advanced miserably. But this series is a very happy turn around. We are sure once we have developed a winning habit we will keep winning. This win in cricket will inspire the nation in every front. Bangladesh will continue as roaring tiger in the world community .Sabas tigers you have made the nation proud.
Almost all the players made individual contributions either with the bat or the ball .But of them Shakibul Hasan and Mominul Haque were stand outs. Both entered the record books with rare achievents. Shakib with 251 Runs and 18 wickets in three tests not only won the man of the series but also inscribed his name alongside two celebrated all-rounders Ian Botham and Imran Khan. Our Little Master Mominul Haque the boy from Cox’s Bazar also started rewriting the history book. With a test batting average of 63.05 for batsmen playing 20 or more test innings he is now ranked only second behind legendary Sir Donald Bradman . His is way above the rest of all current test playing batsmen. Cool composed Mominul has lazy elegance, a sleeping beauty. Reaching 1000 runs in 12 tests he joined the exclusive club of great batsmen alongside of Indian Great Sunil Gavaskar.
Readers please listen to what these two Bangladesh stars said at award receiving. Quoted from Cricinfo.
Quote.
Shakib Al Hasan is the Man of the Series,:. "We knew that it will be hard, we knew we had to stick to our process and improve every day. We did out basics right and that was key. We never thought we would win 3-0 but we knew if we stuck to our plans and executed them, we would win some games. It will lift our team now, some new guys are coming in for ODIs. We are better side in ODIs, in Tests we are improving. Five crucial games coming up. Everytime we go anywhere in Bangladesh we get huge support. Hopefully they will come in large numbers for the ODIs as well"
Mominul Haque is the Man of the Match. : "Feeling good when you get runs. Cox's Bazaar is very close. I will go home now and I will enjoy myself. Tamim got hundred, Imrul got hundred as well. Jubair did well as well and we're going in the right direction" "Great feeling. The team really performed well and I am really happy," says Mushfiqur Rahim, "At the start of the series, we had a chat with out seniors about them stepping up. So Tamim and Imrul came through. Our management planned it well and we executed our plans. In this year, we have not been performing well. But the guys have stuck to their plans. Before the World Cup there is a couple of ODI matches and hopefully we can carry the momentum. First of all, we want to celebrate this wins. I will hand over captaincy to Mash and he will continue the same way and Bangladesh will keep pushing for victory. Chittagong has been great and this is a place we all like"
Unquote 
It was great to see Tamim Iqbal getting back to strides. He was going through an extended lean patch. From the second test we observed his grit and determination when he applied himself in scoring a slow but steady test century after a while batting over three sessions. Tamim rediscovered his fluent best and started putting real price on his wicket. He went on scoring a fluent century at Chittagong his native city which earlier eluded him. He along with his old mate Imrul Kayes he created a new record of first wicket (224) partnership bettering their own partnership record against England.Imrul scored a brilliant 130 on recall in the test side.Mahamudullah Raid also rediscovered his sweet form in the series making very useful regular contributions with the bat. Batting at number number he provided solidity in the team.
As usual spinners dominated the bowling with diversified skill and calss. Two new bowling heroes Taijul and Zubair emerged who along with redoubtable Shakib formed lethal spinning trio. On turning tracks these three I am sure will win many more matches for Bangladesh in not too distant future. In Taizul Bangladesh has found idle replacement for Abdur Razzak. He alone destroyed Zimbabwe at Dhaka test. The most encouraging is the emergence of teenage prodigy Jubair Hossain Likhon. He has tremendous control and appreciable variety. We are excited to find a very high quality leg spinner. He will turn into a great asset for Bangladesh soon if he conducts himself properly and he is mentored well. The wickets had very little offer for the pacers .But whenever opportunity came Rubel and Shafiur delivered.
Zimbabweans could do very little to contain Bangladesh in their surge. In the first and third test they tried to be competitive. They did not have the required bowling resources. Neither their batsmen had the technique, skill or temperament to combat quality Bangladeshi spinners. Yet Masakadza, Sikandar Raza and Young Chakabva batted appreciably. Capatin Breden Taylor was a big disappointment with the bat. If he could bat to his reputation matters could be a bit different. The visitors unfortunately came to Bangladesh with no quality spinner to exploit the condition. Panyangara led their bowling charge well despite of very little help from the wicket. Waller bowled well in Khulna. But was reported for suspect action. Rest were pretty ordinary.
With this series done and dusted Bangladesh is now at number 9 spot of ICC ranking. By end 2017 it must move at least one step up. Next year Bangladesh will host Australia, South Africa. Those will be much stronger challenges. Bangladesh must prepare its batsmen for playing against likes of Mitchel Johnson, Staarc, Dayle Steyn, M Morkel, and Philander. We must prepare some sporting wickets now for preparing our batsmen and bowlers for those challenges. Bangladesh needs to prepare for ICC World Cup 2015 on much pacey and bouncy surfaces.
There is every reason to celebrate the series white wash. The first achievement of winning three tests on a trot. But we must not get complacent. This is not the end of the road. Rather we have just walking on the purple path of glory .The path ahead is not going to be bed of roses. We have to ensure very arduous journey. We have now to prove that this success is not a flash in the pan.
But right now Mashrafee squad will focus on 5 match ODI series and let hope we win and win well. Go Tigers Go.
BDST: 1603 HRS, NOV 16, 2014
