An innings that silenced many critics

In December 2004, there was plenty of excitement in the country's cricket fraternity when India sent a star-studded Test side including the likes of Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman. 

The series took place at a time when, for many months, cricket fans in this country had wept while the rest of the world ridiculed our cricket, our players.

There had been a concerted effort in international media to negatively project anything and everything associated with Bangladesh cricket, a campaign which had intensified with India's tour of Bangladesh. Bangladesh were even called the 'ugly sister' of the Test world.

And that had continued when the hosts went down in the first Test in Dhaka by an innings and 140 runs. The Tigers had their backs against the wall and they had desperately needed to gain something positive from the second Test.

Against such a backdrop, a spectacular innings came from a young batsman, leading people to believe that a Bangladeshi batsman could in fact dominate a bowling attack; that a Bangladeshi batsman could leave a bowling attack in tatters. It was Mohammad Ashraful majestic unbeaten 158 that answered many naysayers. Ask those who were present at the MA Aziz Stadium that day and their first impression of that innings would be the same.

It had rained brilliance from the right-hander at the end of which there were tears in the eyes of millions all over Bangladesh but this outpouring of emotion was of pride and unbridled joy.

True the Tigers suffered another heavy defeat but that second Test will always be remembered as the match where Ashraful inspired his side to show what they were capable of if they played to their potential. Single-handedly he had earned respect for his country that had been so elusive as he reached that magical three-figure mark.

It was such a unique innings that it was celebrated beyond the boundaries that separated the two nations involved in the battle.

"It was absolutely a brilliant knock but not unexpected because he has the talent to play this kind of innings. The way he dominated the bowlers was amazing for me," said then India captain Ganguly.

And for then Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar it was a rare experience. "It is the greatest innings I have ever seen from any Bangladeshi batsman. The way Ashraful dominated the bowlers was a rare experience for me."

As today marks the completion of two decades since Bangladesh first took the field to play their inaugural Test match against India at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in 2000, that majestic innings definitely comes to mind along with few others individual and team achievements in reminiscence of the Tigers' journey in Test cricket.

But unfortunately since then the immensely talented batsman, Mohammad Ashraful, fell into disgrace and Bangladesh have been at the receiving end of humiliation more often in Test cricket.