'Team effort key behind ULAB success'

University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh cricket team were felicitated for their runners-up finish in the Red Bull Campus Cricket 2016. The felicitation ceremony was held at the conference room of Bangladesh Cricket Board in Mirpur's Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Monday. ULAB posted a comprehensive 10-wicket win over University of Sydney, Australia in their first match of the tournament at Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Sri Lanka on September 5. But in their second match a day later, ULAB lost to Loughborough University, England by 25 runs. Later on September 7, ULAB claimed a nervy one-wicket victory over Assupol Tuks Cricket, University of Pretoria to confirm their semi-final ticket. ULAB then progressed to the grand finale after beating University of Central Punjab, Pakistan by two wickets at Galle International Stadium on September 10. Skipper Hasanuzzaman was the top-scorer for ULAB with 168 runs in five matches while Arifur Rahman was the highest wicket-taker of the tournament with 13 wickets in five matches. During the programme, ULAB captain Hasanuzzaman said the achievement is the result of total team effort. He gave credit to team discipline and spirit for their success. “We were a balanced team. We enjoyed performing throughout the tournament. We did not have any national team players like Sri Lanka or South Africa had. But we believed in ourselves. We maintained team discipline. Maybe it was the key behind our success,” said Hasanuzzaman. “We targeted the semis at first. After reaching that stage, we thought we had nothing to lose so we just enjoyed the moment and played our best cricket. Unfortunately, we came up short,” he added. On the other hand, head coach Sheikh Mamun said ULAB were one of the best teams in the tournament. “Everybody contributed well and played accordingly. We were unfortunate not to win the trophy but the players played brilliantly,” said Mamun. “I believe our team played the best cricket in the tournament. Unfortunately, we lost against hosts Sri Lanka who had several national cricketers. But my players played brilliantly. Coaches and managers, even players from several teams praised our displays and regarded us as the best team of the tournament,” he added. ULAB earned the opportunity to participate in the Red Bull Campus Cricket World Final Tournament by winning the ninth Fair Play Cup 2016 in February. Every year since 2006 ULAB have been organising the Fair Play Cup. Jalal Younus, director and chairman, media committee of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, Kazi Inam Ahmed, director of BCB, Taufiq Aziz, advisor of ULAB Field Sports Club and head coach Mamun were present among others on the occasion.