The ICC World Cup trophy was greeted with huge enthusiasm and fanfare as prime minister Sheikh Hasina, national cricket captain Mushfiqur Rahim and the people from all walks life seized the opportunity to catch a glimpse of it.
The trophy came as part of its visit to the countries that will participate in next year’s tournament to be staged in Australia and New Zealand from February 14 to March 29.
The trophy that arrived on Thursday was formally received by Bangladesh national cricket captain Mushfiqur Rahim and Bangladesh Cricket Board’s acting CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
Mushfiq, who had a photo-shoot with the trophy inside the stadium, said it has become a great source of inspiration for the Tigers especially at time when they are struggling and are yet to win any one-day Internationals and Tests.
Bangladesh have just six months to hit form if they are to achieve anything significant in the World Cup where they are placed in Group A and begin their campaign against Afghanistan on February 18.
Hopefully – if not now – in the future Bangladesh will touch this [in their own right],’ Mushfiq told reporters at the SBNS. ‘I have always dreamt of it and I still do, hopefully, it will happen some time. Our generation will try, if we can’t do it then hopefully the next generation will.
‘I want to see it [in showcase of Bangladesh Cricket Board] before I die,’ added the wicketkeeper-batsman.
Mushfiq and some national players later took the trophy to the prime minister’s office at the Ganabhaban at 11:00am. The prime minister and the BCB high-ups also had a photograph taken with the trophy before it was moved to the Bashundhara City Shopping Mall for public viewing.
The trophy was kept at the mall, which was brimming with Eid shoppers, for a public display from 12:00pm to 8:00pm.
Hundreds of cricket fans jostled to take snaps with the trophy at the mall, where it was accompanied by national players Shamsur Rahman, Marshall Ayub and Taskin Ahmed.
The World Cup trophy leaves Dhaka today in the morning and after visiting 12 countries over four months, the trophy will reach Melbourne on November 6.
-With New Age input
