Saquib brought Joy of Bangladesh

A gentle sober unassuming youngster of Magura Bangladesh making Bangladesh looks brighter and bigger with one after other glories. Best ODI all-rounder in ODI of ICC rating, inclusion in ICCs best test team 2009 and now to top them all best cricketer of 2009 judged by world famous widen cricket monthly. World cricket world sports arena now knows Bangladesh for Saquib and his roaring Royal Bengal Tigers.

A section of Bangladesh print and electronic media confused the awrd of Wisden Cricket Monthly with that of Wisden Cricket Almanac which every year selected 5 best of the best cricketers. But winning the best cricketer award of Wisden Cricket monthly is no less achieving.

Bangladesh for negative reasons makes the world best. Most corrupt country, country on the verge of failed country for poor governance, bitter political rivalry , organised terrorism , poor governance made our image so distorted over the years that the glorious achievements of our brilliant innovative farmers, hard working general masses almost remains unnoticed. Now with Saquib and his mates rocking cricket world a new interest seem to have rekindled among world community to re-explore Bangladesh potential in all areas. Saquib and his fellow tigers for their recent achievements deserve unqualified praise from Bangladeshis all over the world.
 

Our Cricketer friend Yazdani witnessed Tigers ODI series against Australia last year in Darwin. That series did not have much to talk about Bangladesh. But Nevertheless Yazdani had useful discussions with Jamie Siddons nursing Bangladesh cricket. Yazdani told me Jamie felt Bangladeshi Youngsters have raw skills. If these could be nurtured well and if the youngsters could be given to know their potential they will only move from one level to other. Unfortunately Bangladesh lost most of its first team players to ICL and subsequent BCCI- ICC mess made 14 top Bangladesh cricketers unavailable for national side.

But Bangladesh with depleted team bounced back, played admirably well against Srilanka, New Zealand, South Africa. Two players who led the way were from neighbouring places Narail and Magura. Mashrafee the “Narail Express “and Saquib “Magura Master” . Unfortunately flamboyant Mashrafee suffered too many injuries making Saquib take much more responsibility. Over the last three months or so how brilliantly he responded with bat, ball and even as leader of an underdog struggling to find their feet in world arena.

If any neutral judge makes impartial assessment Saquib was definitely the player of the year 2009. We know Michel Johnson is a high quality bowler and has potential to grow as genuine all rounder but his performance was not as steady as Saquib. Playing for Australia he had better opportunity to dominate opponents. But Squib always had to float against the tide. Australian batting gave Mitchell enough liberty to attack opponents but Saquib always had to fight with thin batting resources, struggle in team crisis. In all accounts judging Mitchell Johnson above Saquib by ICC was definitely not proper. If we are rude we may say ICC showed its racial narrowness in not naming Saquib the best Cricketer of 2009.

But The Wisden Cricket Monthly did the justice. Its cricket journalists in opinion pool adjudged Saquib the best.  A look at the galaxy of superstars who featured in the panel will speak on his behalf.
1. Shakib Al Hasan (BAN)
2. Gautam Gambhir (IND)
3. Graeme Smith (RSA)
4. Sachin Tendulkar (IND)
5.  Jacques Kallis (RSA)
6. Ben Hilfenhaus (AUS)
7. Andrew Flintoff (ENG)
8 Dale Steyn (RSA)
9. Fidel Edwards (WIS)
10. Andrew Strauss (ENG)

In the eight Tests Shakib played in that period, he took 45 wickets at 23 with his left-arm spin, including five five-wicket hauls, and scored 498 runs at an average of 35.57.

India's Gautam Gambhir was ranked second with South African captain Graeme Smith claiming third place, just ahead of Tendulkar and Kallis, who tied for fourth place.

John Stern, editor of the magazine, added: "I'm sure this achievement will be a surprise to many followers of the game but it represents an outstanding 12 months for Shakib, especially in the context of him playing for an international side that is still finding its feet."

Shakib, 22, has been described as the best player to come out of his country since it achieved Test status in 2000.

In the past another world class performer tiny Ashraful rocked cricket world being the youngest test century scorer against wiles and guiles of Muttiah Muralidharan and willy Vaas in Srilanka.Ash played several other brilliant innings . His innings against Australia and England in successive ODI matches His batting against India and South Africa in World Cup 2007 was as good as any master blaster. But his full potential still remains unfulfilled. He could not achieve the consistency the player of his class deserves. Possibly he was given leadership of the team too early burdening him with additional responsibilities of leading an underperforming underdog. As well wisher of Saquib we hope he will not be burnt out with unnecessary responsibilities. He is very calm, cool, composed. We are sure success will not make him complacent. Maturity will make him more polished, more accomplished. We hope our media will be more responsible in dealing with cricket and will not loose some tricks in euphoria. Confusing the award of Wisden Cricket Monthly with Wisden almanac best Cricketer of the year is definitely not smart. I am sure if Saquib performs next year in England he will be in serious contention for it as Wisden authority always focuses radar on top performers of visiting team. Playing in England is always considered ultimate test of Cricketers skills and temperament. Bangladesh will also play in Lords the cricket Mecca.

Bangladesh team has just started flowering fruits. So many youngsters just blossoming from bud. ICC players are again available. Players like Shahriar Nafees, Habibul Bashar, Aftab, Alok, Nazimuddin and Dhiman Ghosh will create steep competitions for players willing to represent Bangladesh.

Bangladesh has rookies Rubel Hussein, Dollar Mahmud to share load of Mashrafee. We have very high quality spinning option. We have Nucleus of good batting talents like Tamim, Roquib, Ashrfaul, Saquib and Mushfique. Even Mahamudullah Raid and Naeem are also good all-rounder.

The next 6- 9 months will see Bangladesh play major cricket force at home and abroad. We are sure Bangladesh will grow from strength to strength.

The recognition of Saquib will act as beacon for way ahead. Congrats Saquib you have made all Bangladeshis proud. We freedom fighters fought risking our lives to see golden sons of soil like you Saquib. Our martyred co fighter’s soul will rest in peace to feel your achievement.

Saquibs achievement can be compared with that of Dr M Yunus and Dr Amtya Sen winning Nobel Prize as outstanding genius of Bengal.  But one must not yet compare his achievement of Great Poet Rabindra Nath Tagore as yet or Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. But Bangabandhu definitely dreamt of Bangladeshi like Saquib when he said” I need golden men to build golden Bengal”
Saquibs achievement will definitely inspire Bangladeshis in different aspects of life at home and abroad.