Bashar picks his best memories
It could be said that the 'fearless' version of the Tigers first appeared when Habibul Bashar led Bangladesh to a five-wicket win over India at the Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad in the 2007 World Cup. Bangladesh had turned into a force to be reckoned with after that historic win, which had knocked India out in the group stage. That was followed by a victory over the mighty South Africa in the Super Eight.
So, it was no surprise that Bangladesh's most successful ODI skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza often put Bashar's achievements ahead of his own. We could recall what Mashrafe said after overtaking Bashar as the most successful ODI captain for Bangladesh.
"If you look at Sumon [Bashar] bhai's wins, those should be considered as double. Because winning was very tough for us then," said Mashrafe.
Like Mashrafe, Bashar did not hesitate to put his predecessors' achievements ahead of his own, especially the 1997 ICC Trophy, which the former national skipper marked ahead of every milestone in Bangladesh cricket.
But still, whenever your mind goes down memory lane, it always finds some of your own sweet memories. "No, if you consider the time we have been passing due to the fear of the coronavirus pandemic, I would not want to be bored. I never enjoy watching those matches [the 2007 World Cup wins] because both were one-sided affairs," Bashar said.
"If you are talking about historic importance then it's a different issue and I will make a list that will not go with what I make for this moment, as I want to memorise those matches that give me immense pleasure because of their competitiveness," he added.
Bashar was not ready to consider the final outcome of the matches when he requested to make a top-10 list of Bangladesh's international matches.
"We lost the Multan Test in 2003 but I can still remember every moment and every twist of the match. It is a match you would never get bored of watching. Same for the Fatullah Test against Australia in 2006, we lost but it was a match to remember for us.
"Still, I can see the match we won in Harare in 2000, which was our first international fixture since achieving Test status, and what a thrilling finish it was. The first-ever win against India in 2004 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium was something special in my mind, especially the crowd was amazing. The 2012 Asia Cup final, the Cardiff victory against Australia, the first Test win against Zimbabwe in 2005, the win against England in Adelaide in the 2015 World Cup are the matches with the qualities that make a good cricket match. We may not often mention the ODI victory in Bulawayo in August, 2009 but I must say Tamim Iqbal was amazing in that match," he continued.
"But the 1997 ICC Trophy is above everything. You cannot compare any match with it. Nothing could have been more pleasant than watching those historic matches. Actually, I cannot explain my emotion when I think about that time," Bashar said.
"I believe our young stars will benefit by watching the matches I mentioned here during this unwanted break," Bashar, who is also a national selector, suggested.
BASHAR'S TOP 10
ICC Trophy, 1997: Bangladesh became champions by defeating Kenya in the final. The match was affected by rain and was played over two days. The Bangladesh target was set at 166 from 25 overs by the Duckworth–Lewis method. The Tigers reached the target off the last ball of the match with two wickets in hand.
Multan Test, 2003: Bangladesh came very close to their maiden Test win, only to be foiled by Inzamam-ul-Haq.
Harare ODI, 2004: Bangladesh won their first international fixture since achieving Test status in 2000 by a thrilling eight-run margin. With 13 runs to defend in the final over, Tareq Aziz bowled Stuart Matsikenyeri and Douglas Hondo off consecutive deliveries to prompt scenes of unfettered joy in the Bangladeshi dressing-room.
Dhaka ODI, 2004: Bangladesh pulled off a historic first ODI victory at home and also their first-ever win against India at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Cardiff ODI, 2005: In Sophia Gardens, Bangladesh earned the respect of the cricketing world, beating the mighty Australia by five wickets. Mohammad Ashraful's brilliantly paced 100, from 101 balls, kept the Tigers on course throughout.
First Test Win, 2005: On home soil, Bangladesh won the two-match series against Zimbabwe 1-0 with one Test drawn. This was the first time in their history, when Bangladesh had won both a Test match and a Test series.
Fatullah Test, 2006: Bangladesh nearly caused a massive upset in the first Test of the series, only to be denied by Australian captain Ricky Ponting, who scored an unbeaten 118 in the second innings as the visiting team won by 3 wickets.
Bulawayo ODI, 2009: Charles Coventry made an unbeaten 194 but his effort was overshadowed by Tamim Iqbal, who scored a match-winning 154.
Asia Cup Final, 2012: Pakistan stunned Bangladesh in a last-ball thriller to win by 2 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
World Cup 2015: In Adelaide, England were knocked out of the tournament as Bangladesh claimed a stunning 15-run win to book a place in the quarterfinals of the World Cup for the first time in their history.