A wicket & a hattrick

EHSANUL HAQUE

Daily Star Sport (DSS): How did it feel when you heard that you would play the 2003 World Cup?
Ehsanul Haque (EH): World Cup is always different from every other tournament that you play.
I scored a lot of runs in the National League, around 997 runs, prior to the World Cup, and also performed well against West Indies in the home series. So I was confident that I would be in the squad. Then again it was the World Cup, I felt great.
DSS: How excited were you?
EH: I was very excited to be a part of the World Cup team. Then again I also felt the responsibilities I had on my shoulder as a batsman, as it was the top most level of the game.
DSS: How was the team atmosphere in South Africa?
EH: Just before the World Cup, we had a successful tour to Namibia winning all the five matches we played. The team spirit was definitely high. But after losing to Canada in the World Cup we were morally down. We were not able to recover from it, and certainly the atmosphere changed, as we were not able to win matches.
DSS: Was there frustration with your performance?
EH: I was not performing up to the mark and obviously I was frustrated and depressed.
DSS: Tell us the funniest story of World Cup for you.
EH: (Laughing) Vaas's hattrick against us was kind of funny because he was not fit and didn't want to play that match. When he played he made a world record taking up a hattrick with the first three deliveries he bowled in the very first over of the match. I was his hattrick wicket.
DSS: How did you feel after taking Brian Lara's wicket?
EH: I bowled regularly in the practice matches and I did well. I used to think myself as a bowler whenever I was asked to bowl.
When I got (Brian) Lara out I celebrated normally as I would get any wicket. Later on after the innings was over, I realised I got the wicket of one of the greatest batsman and felt proud of it.
DSS: Expectations of World Cup 2011?
EH: Bangladesh is playing better cricket now a days. Individual performances are great.
I believe anything can happen in the World Cup and we have the home advantage as well. If the players can continue doing what they are doing now, Bangladesh team might reach the latter of the tournament.