How cricketers remember that historic run

As soon as Kenyan seamer Martin Suji's delivery swerved off Hasibul Hossain Shanto's pad, there was ecstasy for Bangladeshis everywhere. That meant that Bangladesh were the champions of the ICC Trophy, that Bangladesh were going to be in the World Cups from now on. 

Not just Kuala Lumpur, the whole of Bangladesh celebrated the moment like mad. How did the cricketers celebrate? What were they doing when Bangladesh clinched the trophy? 

The Business Standard (TBS) had a chat with Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Mohammad Ashraful, Aftab Ahmed, Abdur Razzak, Syed Rasel and Shahriar Nafees to relive those moments, what they were doing to celebrate the historic milestone.

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza

It was a historic moment. There no short of excitement and tension as only a run was required off the last ball. I remember it very well. I listened to it on the radio. Shanto bhai took that run, there was a procession I remember. Despite it being a long time ago, a match like this will always be remembered. 

Probably no one of our age was at home after the win. We all were celebrating, me and my friends did a procession. I had a very different feeling because of my love for the game. Bangladesh qualified for the World Cup-winning the previous match and became champions in the next, it created a festive buzz all around.

That tournament helped cricket spread around the whole country. At that time, I studied in class eight, we used to play cricket with tennis balls, I had never played with a cricket ball till then.

Aftab Ahmed

It was a long time ago but I still remember that historic match. There was a program that day here (in Chattogram). I remember that after winning the match, we all the kids ran towards Akram (Khan) bhai and Nannu (Minhazul Abedin) bhai's house. We did not have a drum, so we used our plates and spoons to celebrate.

Not just us, thousands of people came to Akram bhai and Nannu bhai's house. Everyone made festive sounds with whatever they could. I was watching the game on the street. After winning, I went to their houses. It was a great day, to be honest, it is impossible to describe with words.

I studied in class seven back then and played my fair share of school cricket. I started playing school cricket in 1996 and with time I started to get more involved in the game. From then on, my life was totally engulfed with nothing else but cricket.

Mohammad Ashraful

I remember that final and that run very clearly. I can never forget that memory. The ball hit Shanto bhai's pad and went to fine leg and they took a run. I ran off to the street with a plate and a spoon shouting "Bangladesh won!". 

I used the plate and spoon as a drum as we did not have a real drum. I kept saying, "Bangladesh have won! Bangladesh have won!". Not just me, everybody was doing the same thing with their plates and spoons. I remember that everybody was playing with colours. I listened to that game on the radio as we did not have the opportunity to watch it on television.

I play cricket at that time, I started in 1996. I got admitted to Wahedul Goni sir that year when I was 12. Despite being very young, I remember that match clearly.

Abdur Razzak 

That is one of the most if not the most historic match in Bangladesh cricket history. You always remember such a match. I listened to the game on a radio, a sense of excitement was working. I can not explain it with words. That momentous run changed Bangladesh cricket.

I remember that run vividly. I was feeling that I was playing the match. I believe that everybody following cricket was feeling that they were playing the match. There was a unique frenzy around and the match was very thrilling. 

The match went to the last ball but see there was rain and the players had to dry the outfield themselves. The thrill was different and never fell short. I had a different feeling when Bangladesh won. I played cricket seriously back then as I was studying in BKSP back then. I was studying in class eight or nine at that time. 

Syed Rasel 

I was very young but I remember the match clearly. We were watching the game at Jagarani Sangsad. Martin Suji was bowling, he was all covered up in mud. Shanto bhai and Pilot bhai took the run as the ball went towards fine leg. It was a very thrilling experience to witness such a match.

It does not feel like it has been 23 years. I feel like I can see it right in front of my eyes as if it happened yesterday. I remember that match so vividly because it was such a nerve-wreaking match.

I played cricket but had not really played with the cricket ball yet. I played Nirman cricket for my school when I was in class 10. That tournament was my first-ever experience with the cricket ball. It was after 1997. Before that, I used to play with tennis balls a lot and for that, I had to endure a turbulent time at home.

Shahriar Nafees

I was in school that day, I studied in class seven back then. We had qualified for the World Cup before the final. The teachers were very strict at Saint Joseph but they allowed us to keep a radio in the classroom for that day. We were listening to the game on the radio. 

We heard that we needed one run from the last ball. After that run, the whole school shot into ecstasy. We did a procession on the school field. It was the first huge milestone for Bangladesh cricket, it was an excellent day.

I decided to become a professional cricketer because of that match. Bangladesh ensured their World Cup spot with that and I thought that I can play. My family pressurised me to go to Cadet College and the Army. But I focused on cricket rather than going to study at Cadet College because of that match. I started to train under Wahedul Goni sir at that time.