Quazi Zulquarnain Islam
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. – MARIANNE WILLIAMSON
What a match! A topsy-turvy encounter encompassing all possible emotions a fan can experience, ended via the unexpectedly lusty blows of the wily Muttiah Muralidaran. He will have seen it all before, a grizzled veteran of 300-something ODI matches that he is.
But for the Tigers, yesterday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium could and should be the start of something new.
With glory beckoning, the Tigers failed, managing to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. It was a cruel life lesson, but hopefully one that will teach this gallant group of youngsters a thing or two about the mental strength needed to play international cricket.
Defeat can be a heart-wrenching thing, especially in the circumstances under which it came, but for once, the mantra of ‘taking the positives’ should hold true.
Because this should be our marker — almost everything is achievable, but even if you fail, do so gloriously.
And that is exactly what the Tigers did yesterday.
Not even the most ardent fan thought they would defend 152. But going absolutely all out, they matched the Lankans every step of the way. Buoyed on by a rousing home support, the Tigers fought tooth and nail, gave no quarter and when they heartbreakingly went down in the end, they did so with all guns blazing.
Forget the conditions, forget home advantage, and forget the pitch. It was all the same for both sides.
Take a bow Mohammad Ashraful — the young captain, disappointing with the bat once again, showed a bravery that was lacking in all of his predecessors. He captained like he bats when on form — with an air of valour and the razor sharp instincts of a hunter going for the kill.
That he bowled out his best bowlers before the end, shows his inexperience, but as they say, ‘no risk, no gain’. He needed those ten wickets before the game reached 50 overs. He gambled and it failed. It would be a travesty to hold that against him.
The hard facts of yesterday’s encounter cannot be changed. Sri Lanka won, Bangladesh lost. But the intangible rewards — ever so important — go to the Tigers.
Hardly has their collective spirit and hunger shone through so greatly. Never before have they been so positive.
Amongst all the usual gibberish that pre-match conferences usually spurt, one quote from our captain on Thursday proved insightful.
“All of us want this year to be a big year for Bangladesh cricket,” Ashraful had said. “We want to compete well with the big teams and get positive results.”
And that is what they did. After Friday, one thing is for certain. Nevermore do the Tigers need to hang their heads in shame, nevermore should they feel the urge to give in to the inevitable, nevermore should we feel inadequate in the face of insurmountable odds.
In short, we should never again be afraid to achieve. Win or lose, let yesterday be an example of that.
Courtesy: thedailystar.net
