Bengal Tiger Sakib in Australian Big Bash Cricket

Bengal Tiger Sakib Al Hasan looked great in KFC Big bash T20 Melbourne derby at Iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground last night. The very exciting contest which went down to wire had to be decided through a photo finish single taken on the last ball. Till the last ball the match was locked level. SAKIB bowling excellent line and length against rampaging Glen Maxwell and Kevin Pieterson was instrumental in extending the match to that stage .His four tight over produced 23 runs and he accounted for early removal of opposing captain Cameroon White in his very first over. I saw Sakib bowling against weak Zimbabweans at Sher –e Bangla National stadium Dhaka in end November and I was there at MCG last night. Sakib was bowling against two of the finest and very aggressive international batsmen Maxwell and Pieterson in belligerent mood. Sakib impressed me and impressed many cricket experts here at MCG with his excellent bowling. On an easy paced wicket where even experienced bowlers like Pattinson and Siddle struggled Sakib could earn respect and care from the batsmen. If one asks about his batting he was sent very late on the 19th over possibly for strategic reason when he had no time to look and settle. He had to go for every delivery. He tried that and by doing could connect the fifth delivery with a strong pull and was caught on the square leg fence by Wright. Remember this was his second match at Melbourne .He will be different in matches in future.

Playing at Iconic MCG must be the dream come true for any international cricketer .Sakib has played all over the world and carried Bangladesh on his shoulder. Yesterday our heart was pumping when all gathered around our Sakib after he cleaned Melbourne star skipper and leading Australian limited over batsman Cameroon White. My son Shahriar Shuvro and his newly married wife Rizwana Jasmin were with me. I saw tears on their eyes when Sakib’s catch was taken by Wright in front of us .But I could see their delight when he got the wicket and bowled exceedingly well. Melbourne Renegades had miserable Big Bash this year. Sakib joined late and this was only his second match. They won the match against Hobart Hurricane where Sakib scored 14 in 12 deliveries, took two wickets and a catch. Yesterday he bowled economically. Melbourne Renegades almost won the match sensationally. Sakib has already made his mark. My analytical eyes could watch Sakib pitching most of his 24 deliveries on correct length and line. He could have a feel of the pace and bounce of the dropping MCG wicket which will assist him a lot against Sri Lanka at MCG on 26 February ICC World Cup match.Last year when BCB hurriedly suspended Sakib controversially and banned on his appearing for his teams in international cricket we opposed the nature of punishment. He could be fined and suspended for few matches after conducting proper enquiry .But banning a professional player from foreign appearance was unjustified .Bangladeshi cricketers hardly get opportunity for playing abroad .Sakib is rare exception. His appearance abroad adds new dimension to Bangladesh and Bangladesh Cricket. BCB should encourage more and more players playing in English, Australian and West Indian domestic cricket. That will have major impacts on Bangladesh Cricket.

The match in question was very exciting and was decided on the last ball and the third umpire had to give decision on a photo finish single to separate the two Melbourne teams in front of 37 thousand cheering fans of two teams. Till then the match was locked at 153 each team. Melbourne Renegades Captain AJ Flinch won the toss and elected to bat. Left handed Australian international MS Wade was in belligerent mood as he plundered Melbourne Star bowlers with scintillating stroke play scoring 71 in 49 deliveries with two fours and four sixes .Unfortunately his long innings kept Sakib out of action till 19 th over as Flinch wanted left and right combination got going .Sakib originally drafted for batting at number four had to wait till Wade got out. Sakib had only few deliveries to bat and had no time to settle. He could score only 1 in five deliveries and got out trying to clear square leg fence. His team could post a challenging target of 154 to the opposition.

Sakib was brought in to bowl on the second over and immediately paid dividends cleaning up Cameroon White with the last ball of his first over with his lethal weapon arm delivery. Melbourne Star was reduced to 2/14 by the 2over. X-factor Glen Maxwell joined aggressive Kevin Pieterson (KP) .These two dangerous batsmen of present day cricket started toying with Melbourne Renegades bowling dispatching them all around and across the park. But Sakib was treated with respect for his very sensible bowling. The pair put the team on the path of glory scoring at will in their 120 runs third wicket partnership. But as soon as Maxwell (66) was removed by leg spinner Fawad Ahmed at 134 panic set in. KP, Faulkner, Keath and Hastings fell like a pack of cards. On the final ball the score stood level. Only frantic run on the last ball could win the match and still required the TV umpire to adjust. 37 thousand adoring fans had their money’s worth. We found a few Bangladeshi families coming only to see Sakib in action. My Aussie friends appreciated Sakib and we made them cheer “Saakib Saakib” whenever he came near us to field. It was great to see Bengal Tiger in action at cricket’s paradise.