DHAKA: Team tigers lost their last match in T20 World cup against fancied India after dominating till the last three balls turning the tide against them.
It could be a fairy tale win for Bangladesh had it happen. It could happen if Mushfique or Mahmudullah could keep their usual cool in that nerve wrecking situation. The match entered into pressure cooker situation in the last over with Bangladesh needing 11 for a win.
Two of the tried, tested, cool customers Mushfique and Mahmudullah were at the wicket. The entire stadium was in pin drop silence. Billions across the world were glued to the Media screens. Mahmudullah tapped the first ball for a single. Ten needed off five.
Mushfique played two delightful strokes off second and third. Two needed of three. In similar situation over the years we have witnessed the best of the best lost the focus. Mushfique and Mahmuduallh could tap the ball, play with soft hands and walk two singles.
Sudden rush of blood made them trying glory strokes bringing their down fall .Still two were required of the last ball. Shubhagato failed to connect. Mustafiz got out trying to steal a single. India got out of jail.
The dreams of tigers earning a fairy tale win turned into deep despair. But the way tigers played 237 balls out of 240 earned them sympathy, admiration of world cricket. Mushfique and Mahmudullah failed Ok in taking the team across the finishing tape.
But we must keep applauding the team tigers for pushing the favorites India to the brink. Another day in another place Bangladesh will win. World Cricket now knows how ferocious can be wounded tigers. Even the great Sunil Manohar Gavaskar had to bring out special words out of his hat to praise awesome Mashrafee for his great attributes in leading the resurgent tigers.
Only the other day he bitterly criticized Mashrafee for his shoulder dropping in a Mashrafee like manner against Australia.
We know how dearly the tiger admirers around the world were waiting for a huge victory cheer. They have every reason to feel down and out. Team tigers under dynamic leadership of Pagla Mashrafee have created dreams, created hopes, created love in everyone’s hearts.
Bangladesh is among the top league. Team tigers are rubbing shoulders with the best of the business. That win was well within our grasp. We could not. But a section blaming Mushfique and Mahmudullah is unkind, unjustified.
Mushfique played two delightful strokes to bring the dream within handshaking distance. But lady luck betrayed. Bangladesh lost. Please do not blame the sincerity and integrity of two of the trusted personality, two heroes of Bangladesh.
I am sure in 9 out of 10 times in similar situation Mahmudullah and Mushfique will win us such matches. It just did not happen on the day.
Team tigers lost. But this is not end of life. Bangladesh has given great account of them. In this T20 world cup Bangladesh played six won three matches and lost three. Bangladesh stressed Australia to their limit and pushed India to the brink. This they did with two top bowlers getting suspension from suspected bowling actions.
How many teams of the world can redeem themselves in similar situation?
It was great that Mashrafee regrouped his troops so quickly like a very competent general in business. We have seen some failed lovers tried to tag “Betrayers “upon two gentleman cricketer Mushfique and Mahmudullah.
They do not deserve these at all. There must not be any love lost. We must stand by our heroes. How wonderfully team tigers are acting as our trusted ambassadors? The entire sporting world now admires and adores Bangladesh as top cricket playing country.
In Australia, in UAE everywhere this writer gets special attention as an insignificant cricket writer. In my 45 years of association with cricket in some form I have never seen Bangladesh playing so well at the top level.
Tigers have taken the nation to a VVIP level in the world sports arena. Mustafiz is a class of his own. Shakib is still the best all-rounder. Tamim is a blaster. Sabbir is awesome striker of the ball. Soumya took the best catch of the tournament. Al Amin has slapped those who sent him back home from world cup.
Mahmudullah and Mushfique are graceful even if they failed to anchor the boat to safety. Taskin and Arafat were the encouragement from behind the scene. And Mashrafee masterminded all.
Perhaps ignoring Nasir is way too much. That Tiger needs opportunity.
Only the other day people bitterly criticized Mashrafee the great soul of Bangladesh.
He had every reason to feel down after losing Taskin and Sunny through suspension and Tamim through illness in the match against Australia. It was like premature death of the most lovable members of a family.
How many can conduct in that situation. Within few days regrouping the troops against the hot favorite home team requires lots of guts and character.
Mashrafee and the team so clinically were discharging. History was unkind in that Bangladesh after dominating till 237 redeliveries out 240 could not keep their cool for the last three. History could not be rewritten.
Can we all forget the bitter memory of Bangalore as a bad dream and look for brighter future. Let Bangladesh give better accounts of themselves against New Zealand the team of the tournament so far.
Let us critically analyze the past matches for learning about not repeating the mistakes. But do not blame any cricketer. They left nothing unturned to make a match of it. We lost the match all right but won all round admiration.
We are sure two strokes will remain as nightmares for two “Majestic Ms” for a long long time. Get up boys get going .How often cricket legends have rich words for a losing team?
BDST: 0730 HRS, MAR 25, 2016
RR
