Habibul Bashar, Mohammad Ashraful, Tareq Aziz and Tatenda Taibu remember Bangladesh's first victory since becoming a trial nation - in an ODI in Harare in 2004.
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| Mushfiqur Rahman and his teammates celebrate Tatenda Taibu's wicket. In the space of nine overs, Zimbabwe lost four wickets for 19 runs. Photo: internet |
From June 1999 to February 2004, Bangladesh collected some unwanted records: most of the losing streak in international cricket, which included most of the Test losing streak, the longest losing streak in that format and most of the consecutive ODI losses. Now under a new captain, Bangladesh hoped for better days.
Habibul Bashar, captain of Bangladesh: the Zimbabwe team was far ahead of us in those days, even in their conditions. We had already lost the Test series. I made a couple of them in my first test captain. While we waited for the rain to stop in Bulawayo [where the first two ODI were to be abandoned], coach Dav Whatmore was trying to instill the mentality of trying to win rather than think of playing well and losing - he would have told us that there c was glory in this.
Bangladesh hitter Mohammad Ashraful: One day during the tour, I was telling Shuvro bhai [the journalist Utpal Shuvro] that the Bangladeshi public treats us like heroes even if we don't win games. We have such a wonderful following despite our results. He told us: why don't you win a game and see what happens.
In the third ODI, played in Harare, Whatmore decided to open the beats with the 20-year-old hitter of medium order Alok Kapali in the hope of being able to take advantage of the restrictions on the field at the beginning of the innings (two fielders were allowed outside the Circle of 30 yards in the first 15 onwards) and help Bangladesh score a total that their laborious bowling attack could defend.
When that collaboration was broken, we sniffed a victory. Our body language changed completely. We started to line up like tigers. At the time I realized that this is what they call a winning mentality.
HABIBUL BASHAR
But in the sixth over, Kapali was caught behind off Douglas Hondo for a 21-ball 9. The score soon slid to 20 for 2, and Bashar, leading his side for the first time in an ODI, was joined at the crease by 20-year-old Rajin Saleh.
Tatenda Taibu, Zimbabwe's wicker-hitter: Douglas Hondo was entering the scene at the time. He was playing bowling well that day, causing the ball to move more from the seam than the other petanque players.
After riding the first Heath Streak spell, Bashar and Saleh added 114 tracks for the third wicket, a rare great collaboration in those days for Bangladesh. While Bashar was the good hitter in the part, Saleh's reputation as a constant high-level presence began to grow after this inning.
Bashar: It was the usual Harare wicket. He had enough for fast launchers. Rajin and I decided to look for Streak and [Ray] Price, their most dangerous launchers, and target Hondo and [Blessing] Mahwire. We told each other that we had to fight for a long time.
Rajin Saleh, Bangladesh, deputy captain: Battle with Shumon bhai [Bashar] is a different experience. He always spoke positively. In this collaboration, he kept telling me that I was on top of the bowling alley. I started to believe it too. The other aspect of that collaboration was the singles we took. Occasionally the boundaries came, but Shumon bhai insisted on breaking down our stand into small portions: putting together 20 runs and then taking it from there.
Taibu: So it happens that Habibul and Rajin are both my friends. They really played cricket during that collaboration. They just gave us a chance.
Bashar: After the end of our partnership, it was necessary to use the slogans and get as many as possible. This is where Dav stressed getting a bigger total instead of settling for a respectable score on the scoreboard. We had to try and win the game. But we were 160 times 6. It was part of Dav's plan to score quickly in the last ten to 15 over. We were slowly making it clear to the players that we had to play certain roles for the team and, as captain and manager, we supported them when they failed.
He was left to the teenager Mohammad Ashraful to complete the job. Breez reached his third ODI fifty and added a record of 51 in 33 balls - thus the fastest 50 and more support for Bangladesh - with Khaled Mahmud.
Ashraful: I came to bat with ten overs left and we needed it as much as possible. I ended up making the fifty fastest for Bangladesh at the time. I was in good nick. I had 98 in the first test on that tour. It was the first time I played the scoop in an international game. I played some against Heath Streak. They weren't too surprised, since I think they rated me as a hitter. With Shujon bhai [Mahmud], we took a competitive 238.
Bashar: Zimbabwe's joke was good, but if our bowling players were doing well, there was value from this Harare wicket, which was not a solid joke like Bulawayo's. We felt, after scoring 238, that we had an opportunity.
"When Tareq took the ninth wicket and started running off with the stumps, I reminded him that we needed one more wicket"BASHAR ON HAVING TO TELL THE CELEBRATING TAREQ AZIZ THAT THE GAME WASN'T OVER YET
Taibu was sent to beat number 4 for the second time in his ODI career. Although it proved to be his most profitable batting position, it was still there for him.
Taibu: I was taking small steps by beating at no. 4, but I liked to beat in that position. I felt that 239 was chasable, easy to obtain.
He was caught by Rahman for 2, and when five overs later, Zimbabwe's top scorer, Stuart Carlisle, fell by 71, the hosts slipped to 140 by 5. Bangladesh was approaching, but still remained a threat.
Bashar: Streak could have changed everything in that game. It was our main concern. With him around, the game was over for us.
Streak led the chase and brought Zimbabwe closer, falling into a memorable run from goalkeeper Khaled Mashud when they needed 40 of the latter five over.
Bashar: Tapash Baisya got Streak's wicket. He was another unknown hero for us in those days. In this game and later in our first Test win, he gave us important discoveries but never got due credit.
Stuart Mastikenyeri now holds the key, with Zimbabwe in need of a 13 final.
Quick bowls player Tareq Aziz: when they were deciding who would win the final, I gave Shumon bhai the confidence to do the job. Previously I had given away some tracks, so I wanted to invent myself. There was pressure, but I understood what needed to be done.
With the first ball of the final finished, his sixth, Aziz Matsikenyeri with the ball clean. The Bangladeshi team erupted in celebration.
Bashar: It was an exciting ending. Matsikenyeri could beat. When Tareq pulled it out, we were quite relieved.
Aziz: I just threw it on the stumps. Don't plan these things. Sometimes you bring it out. This was one of those occasions.
Aziz launched Hondo with another full delivery, sending the Bangladeshi team into a frenzy. The young fast pitcher was making a hat trick but he hadn't realized another hitter would come.
Bashar: When Tareq took the ninth wicket and started running away with the logs, I reminded him that we needed another wicket.
Aziz gave only four heats from the remaining balls and Bangladesh won with eight heats. It was their first ODI victory in five years and their first international victory since becoming a test nation in 2000.
Bashar: You can imagine that it was important at the time. I was on my first tour as captain and the Test series didn't go well. I hadn't convinced everyone that I was a captain. I had been a vice-captain for a year and my only experience as a captain was driving Bangladesh A once.
Aziz: I just shouted to Shumon bhai, who fielded the last ball, to get it back. We have started our celebrations. Many of us were shedding tears after the game. I think it was the first time that we realized that we could even cry after winning a game.
Grant Flower, opening batter: we have always respected Bangladesh. They had good cricket players. I can honestly tell you that we weren't surprised. In the early years, we always imagined our chances against them as we had a good team. I think they respected the way we did our business. It was just experience. We played more cricket.
After Bashar stopped the last ball in the middle of the field, he pumped his fists and reunited with the rest of the team near the field. It was the end of a painstaking period for Bangladesh.
Bashar: We didn't spoil this game in Bangladesh because that would have meant a big party. Most of the celebration in Harare was with us at the hotel afterwards. We had a long adda that night.
After riding the first Heath Streak spell, Bashar and Saleh added 114 tracks for the third wicket, a rare great collaboration in those days for Bangladesh. While Bashar was the good hitter in the part, Saleh's reputation as a constant high-level presence began to grow after this inning.
Bashar: It was the usual Harare wicket. He had enough for fast launchers. Rajin and I decided to look for Streak and [Ray] Price, their most dangerous launchers, and target Hondo and [Blessing] Mahwire. We told each other that we had to fight for a long time.
Rajin Saleh, Bangladesh, deputy captain: Battle with Shumon bhai [Bashar] is a different experience. He always spoke positively. In this collaboration, he kept telling me that I was on top of the bowling alley. I started to believe it too. The other aspect of that collaboration was the singles we took. Occasionally the boundaries came, but Shumon bhai insisted on breaking down our stand into small portions: putting together 20 runs and then taking it from there.
Taibu: So it happens that Habibul and Rajin are both my friends. They really played cricket during that collaboration. They just gave us a chance.
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When Bashar fell, Bangladesh sent Mohammad Rafique as a spiker, but this promotion didn't work either; he was out for 6. Saleh and Mushfiqur Rahman followed him to the locker room in rapid succession: Bangladesh had made a good start, losing four wickets for 26 runs. |
Bashar: After the end of our partnership, it was necessary to use the slogans and get as many as possible. This is where Dav stressed getting a bigger total instead of settling for a respectable score on the scoreboard. We had to try and win the game. But we were 160 times 6. It was part of Dav's plan to score quickly in the last ten to 15 over. We were slowly making it clear to the players that we had to play certain roles for the team and, as captain and manager, we supported them when they failed.
He was left to the teenager Mohammad Ashraful to complete the job. Breez reached his third ODI fifty and added a record of 51 in 33 balls - thus the fastest 50 and more support for Bangladesh - with Khaled Mahmud.
Ashraful: I came to bat with ten overs left and we needed it as much as possible. I ended up making the fifty fastest for Bangladesh at the time. I was in good nick. I had 98 in the first test on that tour. It was the first time I played the scoop in an international game. I played some against Heath Streak. They weren't too surprised, since I think they rated me as a hitter. With Shujon bhai [Mahmud], we took a competitive 238.
Bashar: Zimbabwe's joke was good, but if our bowling players were doing well, there was value from this Harare wicket, which was not a solid joke like Bulawayo's. We felt, after scoring 238, that we had an opportunity.
"When Tareq took the ninth wicket and started running off with the stumps, I reminded him that we needed one more wicket"BASHAR ON HAVING TO TELL THE CELEBRATING TAREQ AZIZ THAT THE GAME WASN'T OVER YET
Bangladesh got an initial turn when Tareq Aziz, playing his sixth ODI in two years, trapped Grant Flower by 2 in fourth place.
Bashar: Tareq is hardly mentioned in this game. Usually Ashraful and I get credit, but if it wasn't for Tareq's bowling alley, we probably wouldn't have won this game.
Zimbabwe has recovered with a second-hand 109-seater stand between Barney Rogers and Stuart Carlisle.
Saleh: In a little while, I would go up to Shumon bhai and tell him that Zimbabwe had to make a mistake and we would be back in the game. I told him to keep encouraging everyone.
Bashar: The partnership seemed the same old story for us. I remember Rafique played well, but we needed a wicket to lift us up.
Mushfiqur Rahman, a promising allrounder bowling player, gave them that wicket - Rogers captured by points from Kapali in 22nd place.
Bashar: When that collaboration ended, we felt a victory. Our body language has completely changed. We started to deploy like tigers. I realized at the time that this is what they call a winning mentality.
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| Mohammad Ashraful's fifty was the fastest by a Bangladesh batsman at the time. Photo : internet |
Taibu was sent to beat number 4 for the second time in his ODI career. Although it proved to be his most profitable batting position, it was still there for him.
Taibu: I was taking small steps by beating at no. 4, but I liked to beat in that position. I felt that 239 was chasable, easy to obtain.
He was caught by Rahman for 2, and when five overs later, Zimbabwe's top scorer, Stuart Carlisle, fell by 71, the hosts slipped to 140 by 5. Bangladesh was approaching, but still remained a threat.
Bashar: Streak could have changed everything in that game. It was our main concern. With him around, the game was over for us.
Streak led the chase and brought Zimbabwe closer, falling into a memorable run from goalkeeper Khaled Mashud when they needed 40 of the latter five over.
Bashar: Tapash Baisya got Streak's wicket. He was another unknown hero for us in those days. In this game and later in our first Test win, he gave us important discoveries but never got due credit.
Stuart Mastikenyeri now holds the key, with Zimbabwe in need of a 13 final.
Quick bowls player Tareq Aziz: when they were deciding who would win the final, I gave Shumon bhai the confidence to do the job. Previously I had given away some tracks, so I wanted to invent myself. There was pressure, but I understood what needed to be done.
With the first ball of the final finished, his sixth, Aziz Matsikenyeri with the ball clean. The Bangladeshi team erupted in celebration.
Bashar: It was an exciting ending. Matsikenyeri could beat. When Tareq pulled it out, we were quite relieved.
Aziz: I just threw it on the stumps. Don't plan these things. Sometimes you bring it out. This was one of those occasions.
Aziz launched Hondo with another full delivery, sending the Bangladeshi team into a frenzy. The young fast pitcher was making a hat trick but he hadn't realized another hitter would come.
Bashar: When Tareq took the ninth wicket and started running away with the logs, I reminded him that we needed another wicket.
Aziz: I thought Hondo was injured, but he went out for a bat and, for some reason, I forgot he had another wicket left. When I launched bowling [Hondo], I started removing the stumps. We all had a good laugh later in the locker room.
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| In six over, bowler Tareq Aziz took 3 times 38 Photo: internet |
Aziz gave only four heats from the remaining balls and Bangladesh won with eight heats. It was their first ODI victory in five years and their first international victory since becoming a test nation in 2000.
Bashar: You can imagine that it was important at the time. I was on my first tour as captain and the Test series didn't go well. I hadn't convinced everyone that I was a captain. I had been a vice-captain for a year and my only experience as a captain was driving Bangladesh A once.
Aziz: I just shouted to Shumon bhai, who fielded the last ball, to get it back. We have started our celebrations. Many of us were shedding tears after the game. I think it was the first time that we realized that we could even cry after winning a game.
Grant Flower, opening batter: we have always respected Bangladesh. They had good cricket players. I can honestly tell you that we weren't surprised. In the early years, we always imagined our chances against them as we had a good team. I think they respected the way we did our business. It was just experience. We played more cricket.
After Bashar stopped the last ball in the middle of the field, he pumped his fists and reunited with the rest of the team near the field. It was the end of a painstaking period for Bangladesh.
Bashar: We didn't spoil this game in Bangladesh because that would have meant a big party. Most of the celebration in Harare was with us at the hotel afterwards. We had a long adda that night.