The entire Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium that held more than its capacity of 25,000 crowds, along with millions glued to the TV sets and with radios beside their ears held their breath the moment Aizaz Cheema’s last delivery fetched just a leg-bye, leaving the hosts only two short of a historical victory over Pakistan in the ... Read more
asia cup 2012
People’s champions
The Asia Cup final took cricket fans by storm with Bangladesh winning hearts of millions across the world including the high and mighty. Minutes after Pakistan pulled off the heist, their second title in the tournament’s history, tweets and Facebook posts poured into the internet
Ashraful proud of Shakib
It was hard to tell whether Syed Ashraful Huq was more proud of Shakib Al Hasan’s performance or the overall organising of the Asia Cup. The Asian Cricket Council CEO waxed lyrical about both yesterday, calling the eleventh edition of the regional event as it’s most successful in terms of the cricket played as well ... Read more
Tigers tamed
Pakistan clinch a cliffhanger to deny Bangladesh Asia Cup Pakistan denied Bangladesh the celebration of the biggest moment in their cricketing history when they beat the hosts by two runs in the nerve-wracking Asia Cup final at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday. Pakistan enhanced their reputation as masters of the big moment by ... Read more
So close, yet so far
There was hardly a dry eye yesterday across the country. From people glued to their TV sets, to people thronged in miniscule cafes, from people gathering in public spaces to those 30-odd thousand who had managed to find their way to Mirpur the tears flowed freely and endlessly. Mushfiqur Rahim wept on Shakib al Hasan’s shoulder, ... Read more
Pace is gentle enough
Don’t measure Bangladesh’s bowling performance by only focusing on the final over of the innings. Shahadat Hossain conceded 19 diabolical runs off the 50th over to give Pakistan a shred of momentum they dearly required towards the end of their innings in the Asia Cup final at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday. It is an ... Read more
Smooth Operator
A friend of Tamim Iqbal says that he doesn’t really chart out his milestone celebrations. “It’s not planned, he just does it on his own. He has never really talked about it,” said Minhaz Uddin Khan, a childhood friend who also happens to be a sports reporter. So when he hammered his fourth successive half-century ... Read more
All eyes on Mirpur
Bangladesh face Pakistan in Asia Cup cricket final today Most of Bangladesh will be glued to TV screens, while a lucky few will find their way to Mirpur, today when Bangladesh take on Pakistan in the final of the Asia Cup at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. It will be a watershed moment for cricket in ... Read more
Can Tigers keep the momentum going?
Bangladesh have already made history in the Asia Cup. But the heroic Tigers will not be sitting on the laurels; they will want something more tangible, more lasting. Mushfiqur Rahim’s men have one bigger challenge left — a meeting with cricketing behemoths Pakistan in the final of the biggest regional competition which will be held ... Read more
Mashrafe the motivator
Having returned from injury and surgery after eleven months, he has taken four wickets and bowled seven tight spells in the Asia Cup, but what Mashrafe Bin Mortaza brings to the Bangladesh dressing-room as a cricketer is more than just wickets or the confidence of a brave cricketer. “If Mashrafe bhai is in the team, ... Read more
HISTORY Tigers in final
We are part of history today. The collective joy of 160 million people has finally been given a rightful place as the Tigers, the beloved Bangladesh cricket team, reached the finals of a major cricket tournament for the first time in its cricket history last night. In beating Sri Lanka by five wickets, the country’s ... Read more
United in joy
To see glory from such close quarters is a pleasure unto itself. Some of us are lucky to hear Stuart Law break into a broad smile while walking into the dressing-room to join the team song Aamra Korbo Joy. The former Australian cricketer said in an interview to this newspaper only a few days ago ... Read more
Impossible is nothing
Mushfiqur Rahim’s men introduced a new Bangladesh to world cricket by reaching the final of the Asia Cup after beating Sri Lanka in the must-win game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday. Bangladesh beat a team like India and South Africa to book their place in the second round of the 2007 World ... Read more
Best already, even better it may get
Days like yesterday, when Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka to reach the Asia Cup final for the first time in history, transcends the limitations of sport. To understand the importance of such an achievement, one not only needs to appreciate the travails of the Bangladesh cricket fan, but also the peculiarities of life in Bangladesh. People ... Read more
Bowling well done
It was the forty-third over, Bangladesh were bowling and there were six fielders inside the thirty-yard circle. That image alone summed up Bangladesh’s fielding effort against Sri Lanka in their Asia Cup match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday. Bangladesh had to win the match to go through to the Asia Cup final for the ... Read more
‘Semifinal’ for Tigers today
The Bangladesh cricket team stand to make history today as they take on Sri Lanka in the last league match of the Asia Cup at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. Make it simple, it is a semifinal for the Tigers; if they manage a win against Sri Lanka, they will qualify for the Asia ... Read more
Tigers’ date with destiny
Bangladesh’s crunch match against Lanka today The Tigers have plenty of motivating factors today in their bid to upstage Sri Lanka for a place in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan on Thursday. The Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium will be the scene of history since this tournament has never been one for the underdogs. Bangladesh have ... Read more
Tendulkar meets PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina described batting genius Sachin Tendulkar as the pride of this subcontinent. She made the remark when the world’s most prolific batsman met her at her official residence Gono Bhaban on Sunday evening. Hasina greeted Sachin for his 100th international century. After the meeting, Tendulkar told reporters that it was a great ... Read more
‘Not here to do any favours’
Sri Lanka has no stake in today’s Asia Cup match. This simple statement may send the wrong message to their opponents; Bangladesh. But if the Tigers heed the words of Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene they should get a clearer picture about how serious Lankans are about the match even though they have already been ... Read more
The Fantastic Five
The Bangladesh players enjoyed a break yesterday after their stunning 5-wicket win over world champions India on Friday evening that opened up the Asia Cup. After Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim’s exploits were documented immediately after the game, The Daily Star Sport’s Bishwajit Roy and Mohammad Isam spoke to the five architects who helped the ... Read more