These Tigers are brilliant
"Can you give me Taskin Ahmed?" an Indian journalist had politely asked Rabeed Imam, BCB's media manager, during Bangladesh's training at Mirpur prior to the second ODI. By that of course the gentleman was requesting for an exclusive interview with the young pacer.
A seasoned negotiator, Imam let out a smile and assured the journalist that he would try his best to fix an appointment. It was a statement that he had had to use a number of times the last week, for the growing popularity of Bangladesh's players readily increased the number of interview requests.
And this time around the demand hasn't just been for the traditional heroes. The requests weren't just limited to the Shakibs, Tamims and Mushfiqurs but were more focussed on Bangladesh's younger brigade. Mustafizur's off-cutters, Sabbir Rahman's power and Soumya Sarkar's silky drives had taken India by surprise and it was time to know more about them.
"Now that's one player who could do well in the IPL," an Indian TV journalist was telling his cameraperson while Sabbir was busy launching baseball–like hits against Dhawal Kulkarni in the second ODI.
And towards the end of the match -- not for the first time this week -- a discussion ensued among the veteran journalists regarding how it was time for the BCCI to invite their neighbours for a full tour. While Bangladesh are scheduled to go to India next year, they will just be playing one Test.
Such has been the impact of Bangladesh's victories in this series that questions regarding Bangladesh being India's next big rivals, replacing Pakistan, were thrown in during press conferences. One of those questions was received by Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha, and the Sri Lankan, in the most modest of fashions, stated that he was pleased that the Tigers were being recognised as a force to reckon with.
Considering Bangladesh as a viable commercial replacement for Pakistan might have been a bit farfetched, for there lies plenty of history between India and Pakistan. But as far as Bangladesh's current ODI team is concerned, there is no doubt that it can excite spectators on any ground in the world.
The aggression with which they have been playing in the last six months has been phenomenal; be it the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand or the last two competitions at home, the players have depicted an immense hunger to win and to dominate games.
The change is clearly evident in each department. Fielders aren't readily pushed back after a mere boundary, batsmen don't let the opening bowlers settle in easily and the bowling unit has enough variations to play on any kind of a wicket.
It's an exciting outfit that is raring to break boundaries with every game they play and it's fair enough to say that if this team doesn't manage to impress the BCCI and encourage them to schedule a full bilateral series in India, and thereby break the 15-year wait, nothing will.
For like the Indian journalists in Mirpur, there surely are a number of spectators in India hoping to get a glimpse of the rising stars from across the border.