This razakar-ism must stop (3 August 1999)

3 August 1999

This razakar-ism must stop

Nizamuddin Ahmed

Intrigued though we were by ECB's stratagem to make the two weaker Group B teams - New Zealand and Bangladesh --- play against a UK side on its home ground, the significance of beating the Scots had been drummed up since before departing Dhaka. Cricket often resembling the enigma of contract bridge, manager Tanveer Muzhar had opted to pass his call even before setting foot on the game's motherland. No one was ready to believe him, perhaps not even he, when he went on record that Bangladesh would not win a single match in the World Cup.

The defeat against the Kiwis at Chelmsford was on the cards, but our bowlers helped to raise expectancy. At Dublin's Clontarf, our fate was pre-doomed against the Caribbean, but our score was something to write home about. So by the time we reached the Scottish capital, our morale was as high as the mountainous North.

It was windy, wet and cold at Edinburgh's Grange ground. Stewards found it difficult to keep on ground the makeshift marquee that served as the press box. Five down for 26 in 11 overs, however, made conditions rather warm and stuffy. It was all in the mind. We needed some fresh air. Minhazul Abedin, a testimony of self-belief, baled out the team from the brink of a calamity, for we had gone to the World Cup to win only one match - that against Scotland. At lunch there were not many apples in the barrel, but the Bangladeshis reckoned there were enough to outlast the tenth wicket of the hosts, no less boisterous than the visiting tigers.

The anticipation and the stakes were high as Bangladesh came out to defend their modest total in search of their World Cup goal. We were forced to leave the relative comfort of the press box to stand out in the cold, gusty open air to suffer the tension of the entire Scotland innings.

Englandhopeful-playing-for-Scotland, Gavin Hamilton (it has to be as joke in the years to come) was being predictable until Manzurul's hand embarrassed him to extinction. Our boys raised their fielding, slapping and doing the 'fives' at each Scot dismissal. Their coach Gordon Greenidge was unperturbed by the rising sun of Bangladesh cricket and was quietly video-ing matters, perhaps for future reference.

By the time they were nine down, we had been told by the ground staff several times to get away from the advertisement hoarding surrounding the ground. Who wants to listen? Specially if you were about to win your first World Cup game. So when the unlikely Scotsman Asim Butt fell to a catch that came down to Aminul Islam after what seemed eternity, we all ran into the ground, not in quest of any souvenir or to brush against any player, but to touch the rising sun. We had won. It was unbelievable. None was perhaps happier than manager Tanveer Muzhar, even though he was proven wrong.

Then began the wretched cynicism and despair among a few so-called Bangladeshis in Britain. 'Is Scotland a team?' was the typical statement of any razakar-minded soul. How someone speaking in Bangla, being a citizen of Bangladesh, even claiming the privilege of a cricket lover, speak in such a defiled manner was beyond sound reasoning. Not rejoicing with the nation is sinful, but to undermine the genuine fulfilment of a dream is unpardonable.

The party over at Stakis Grosvenor hotel, Tom Moody's fervid disposition at Chester-le- Street in the next match brought us back to earth. It was the perfect foil that pepped up our boys to face one of the most fearsome teams, although more often than not, the talented Pakistanis have been shamefully unpredictable.

At Northampton, followers of the World Cup babes outnumbered and out-voiced the seasoned Pakistani supporters, who had also come in full force complete with banners and streamers. They knew they would win this one, 'easily' some Pakistani journalist had teased.

The green and red colours were everywhere; the Bangladeshis flew them with encyclopaedic pride, fully aware that another drubbing was imminent. Who cares? We beat Scotland, didn't we? Little did they know of the joy in store?

The openers - Mehrab and Shahriar -- stuck it out beyond fifty, and finally Akram Khan came to the fore. At batting's end, we had a score that any Test side would have been content to have against the fiery trio of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younus and Shoaib Akhter, the consistency of Azhar Mahmood, and the guile of Murali's contender Saqlain Mushtaq. Shahid Afridi is also a mean customer.

It is not dignified to rejoice while playing against the minnows but the Pakistan body language expressed relief at the fall of every Bangladesh wicket. The video is for all to see and the expert commentary of the match for all to hear.

As the Bangladeshi batsmen loosened their shoulders against a revered Pak attack, Sunil Gavaskar and company uttered, 'beautiful', 'super' and 'impressive' to shots that were 'well timed'. The commentators also commended the Pakistanis for their 'brilliant bowling', and 'any player in the world would have been out to that ball', they said, when Waqar Younis rattled Naimur Rahman's wicket with a sinister cutter.

I was not in the Bangladesh dressing room at lunch, but Aminul Islam must have said, 'We have a score to defend. Come on boys!' And did they come on well!

Despite laudatory cries from the commentary box that Inzamam was 'standing tall', and of Salim Malik's 'nice stroke', Azhar Mehmood's 'nice drive', Wasim's 'lovely' and 'beautifully-timed shot' as well as 'lovely positioning of the feet', Bangladesh reigned supreme on the day.

To observations by television commentators of 'what a great piece of fielding' and 'splendid example by captain', were added Mehrab's 'good catch' to dismiss Moin Khan. Rafiq had 'kept his nerve and was rewarded' against Waqar, who tried to find room, not to try and lose the match but to win it for Pakistan.

The 'terrific effort' by Bangladesh culminated into a 'historical victory' that reputable commentators dubbed as 'a great moment for Bangladesh'.

It is an insult to our valiant players that some at home have been trying to fuel up this propaganda that Pakistan had been bribed. Laughable? Not the least! Derogatory and outrageous? Yes!

Of over 250 foreign cricket correspondents that this scribe came across in the UK after we beat Pakistan, no one even suggested that the match was 'fixed'. On the contrary, there was a report in the Times that the day was not far when Bangladesh would defeat England in a Test match at Lord's. The Mirror correspondent asked me at the Aussie-South Africa semi-final, 'How many of your players will be playing County cricket?' We had been inundated with 'you have done well' and 'what a great performance' on the street, at Lord's and match venues, in shopping malls and on trains and buses. Shall we have to believe that those people, some with thirty years of cricket correspondence behind them, do not understand when a match is fixed and some razakar in Dhaka does?

If anyone can provide any evidence of any nature and any manner that the Bangladesh-Pakistan match at Northampton was 'rigged', the matter may be considered for discussion. Otherwise, please keep your mouth shut. You don't even to deserve to speak in Bangla.

Source :: The Bangladesh Daily Star (https://www.dailystarnews.com)