In this issue

Cover Story

Bangladesh's Surprising Show

Bangladesh's World Cup performances of the past have been utterly forgettable, and much of the constant criticism they have received as a cricketing nation could be attributed to their dismal failures when the world's eyes were on them. In 1999, a year before they gained Test status they were humbled by the more established nations until they beat fellow strugglers Scotland. Their remarkable victory over Pakistan is still questioned in certain quarters as the spectre of match fixing still hangs over that match. In 2003 their South African safari was nothing other than a jungle mauling as they were routinely thrashed by every nation they played, including minnows Kenya and far more embarrassingly by the part timers from Canada. The World Cup has never really been kind to Bangladesh and the 2007 edition threatened to be their shortest tournament ever, as they were slated to play and presumably lose to Sri Lanka and India before beating the new boys of Bermuda. Nothing was expected of them after those three matches other than a few days in the sun and sand coupled with an early flight home. What was supposed to be a two week tournament for Bangladesh turned into a six week epic defined by impossible highs unbearable lows.

Copyright (R) thedailystar.net 2007