The Tigers’ victory against New Zealand in the first Test is the greatest moment in our history as a cricket-playing nation. That is my opinion, and I shall not be convinced otherwise. Over two decades since our first Test match against India, we have a victory in the best format of the game that we can certainly be proud of, that we can remember and talk about, that every player involved in the match should talk about for the rest of their lives.
And yet.
I am what some may call the worst kind of fan when it comes to Bangladesh Cricket. I am never hopeful, and even when we are offered glimpses of positives, or even a sustained run, my immediate reaction is that, just like anything positive in Bangladesh, it shall only be temporary. There have been too many “turning points” and too many “next steps” for me to harbour hope. I just can’t do it.
Test cricket is by far our weakest format. Away Tests even more so. New Zealand conditions? Forget about it. After our humiliation earlier against Pakistan at home, coupled with my naturally pessimistic self when it came to anything sports, and I had absolutely zero hopes of even a draw. Scratch that, I had no hopes of even offering a glimpse of a fight or a performance that would be anything but, to quote a good friend, “shambolic.”
And yet I was proven wrong.
This was against the world champions (yes without their best player in Kane Williamson) but we too were missing our greatest ever player in Shakib Al Hasan and one of, if not our best, batsman in Tamim Iqbal. No excuses, then, for New Zealand.
The fact that it was the young players and not the usual saviours of Bangladesh cricket stepping up to make this historic victory possible is also a very encouraging sign. Two batsmen who could still play for the under-23 side, Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Najmul Hossain Shanto, braved one of the best bowling attacks in world cricket on their home soil. Top order contributions have been severely lacking for Bangladesh, so to see two youngsters batting in the top three getting runs was a joy and brought some peace to the mind.
And as a fast bowling enthusiast who never wanted to bat while growing up, and who has always lamented that Bangladesh are incapable of producing quality fast-bowling, I never imagined that we would win a match in away conditions as a result of a fiery spell of fast bowling, for it was the spell by Ebadot Hossain, who regularly clocked the 140kmph mark bowling in a Test match, that really ensured that we could have a victory.
Humble pie has never tasted sweeter.
And yet, despite all of the adulations and praise that the Tigers are rightfully receiving, I remain the worst kind of fan. I remain sceptical, I say that this was nothing but a flash in the pan, the biggest of flukes. An anomaly, like Leicester City winning the 2015–16 English Premier League or Sri Lanka winning the World Cup in ODI cricket in 1996.
The second Test is underway. Day 1 has already ended. If you’re reading this online on the day of publication, Day 2 hasn’t yet begun. If you’re reading this in print on the day of publication, Day 2 may be underway or already ended. New Zealand at the end of Day 1 are 349 for the loss of one wicket. Unless there is a New Year’s miracle, the Tigers are not going to win this match. There is a far higher possibility that we will lose it. That we shall revert back to the norm. Of losing Test matches in away conditions in a toothless display.
I am ready to eat some more humble pie. The problem is that, despite an insatiable appetite for it, when it comes to Bangladesh Cricket, I’ve only received a few slices of it.
AHM Mustafizur Rahman is Joint Editor, Editorial & Op-Ed, Dhaka Tribune.
