Former Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar has rated his country’s stunning win over New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy on Friday (June 9) as ‘one of Bangladesh’s finest One-Day International wins ever’.
For the second day in a row, the ICC Champions Trophy saw one of the most remarkable run-chase in the recent history of One-Day Internationals. After Sri Lanka stunned India by chasing down a daunting 321 on Thursday (June 8), it was Bangladesh’s turn to put up another heroic display against New Zealand at The Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.
Needing a win to keep their Champions Trophy hopes alive, Bangladesh had their back against the walls when they were reduced to 33 to four with both of their in-form batsmen- Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim- back in the hut in their pursuit of 265.
But what followed thereafter was enough to show that the Asian country has come a long way in international cricket. The sixth-ranked ODI side in the world was taken to an unbelievable victory by a record ODI stand of 224 between Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah. Both the players scored magnificent centuries, as Bangladesh registered only their second win in the Champions Trophy and the first since defeating Zimbabwe in 2006.
The victory came at the same ground where Bangladesh famously overcame Australia by five wickets in 2005. Recalling that famous win, Habibul Bashar said the circumstances under which the win came makes it even more special.
“This must rank as one of Bangladesh’s finest One-Day International wins ever, on par with our victory, also in Cardiff, against Australia in 2005, and against England at the Adelaide Oval in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. It wasn’t just the fact that Bangladesh defeated New Zealand by five wickets, but the manner and the circumstances under which victory was achieved, that made it truly special,” Bashar wrote in his column for the ICC.
“Both teams had to win this game to stay alive in the ICC Champions Trophy, so it wasn’t merely about skills but also about desire and hunger. In the end, Bangladesh’s strong will and commitment to the cause was greater than New Zealand’s, which is why Mashrafe Mortaza’s men are now within sight of a place in the semi-final,” he added.
The win has put Mashrafe Mortaza’s side on three points which means they can secure a historic semi-final qualification if high-flying England beats Australia in Saturday’s (June 10) clash at Birmingham. And Bashar has reckoned the whole of Bangladesh will be behind England when they take on their Ashes rivals.
“Of course, that berth in the last four is far from guaranteed, but I can assure you that never will England have gone into a match with as much support as they will on Saturday when they take on Australia. Upwards of 160 million Bangladeshis will be squarely in England’s corner, rooting for the home side! After all, an England victory will secure a historic semi-final berth for Bangladesh, and I am sure Eoin Morgan will welcome all the backing his team can get as it prepares to face the old enemy,” Bashar wrote.
With fate not in Bangladesh’s hand, Bashar feels the country should savour the win and should be proud of their remarkable achievement.
Bangladesh can savour this win, and then come out and back England to put it past Australia. Its fate is no longer in its hands, but it has done everything possible to keep itself afloat, and it can be very proud of what it achieved on Friday. I sure am!” he concluded.