Bangladesh national cricket team players pose with the ICC World Cup trophy at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Wednesday. — New Age photo
The arrival of the ICC World Cup trophy in the country has made Bangladesh dreaming as players, officials and fans anticipate the Tigers winning the most prestigious global cricket tournament someday.
The ICC World Cup Trophy reached Dhaka on Wednesday on four-day visit as part of its global tour and was put on display almost immediately at the Sher-e Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur for players and fans.
Bangladesh, ranked seventh in the ICC ODI ranking presently, automatically qualified for the 12th edition of the tournament in England and Wales, scheduled to be held next year.
The recent performance of Bangladesh in 50-over format made them one of the strong contenders to lift the trophy unlike past, which added an extra significance to the visit of World Cup trophy.
‘Insallah, one day the World Cup trophy will be ours,’ an ecstatic chief selector Minhajul Abedin told reporters after being photographed with the piece in Mirpur.
‘The way we are progressing, I am really hopeful of getting a good result in the upcoming World Cup,’ said Minhajul, a member of Bangladesh’s first World Cup squad in 1999.
‘The word World Cup is a unique thing. It motivates the youngsters all the time. I believe we will perform well in the next World Cup,’ he added.
National cricketer Mehedi Hasan, who was hoping to make his maiden appearance in the World Cup next year after playing his first ODI in 2016, was equally excited by seeing the trophy.
‘Everyone has a dream to play in the World Cup,’ said Mehedi. ‘If I remain fit and get the opportunity, I will obviously try to play well there…Everyone in the team will try to do well and everyone is practicing for that,’ he said.
Shova Aktar, a class 11 student from Begum Badrunnesa Government Girls’ College was ecstatic to see the World Cup trophy for the first time and believed Bangladeshi players would be able to win the trophy this time around.
Shova was part of a group of underprivileged children brought to the programme by UNICEF to catch a glimpse of the trophy.
‘I feel so much happy as I never saw a World Cup trophy before. I have taken several photos carrying flags of different countries, which made me happy most,’ she said.
‘I hope Bangladesh team will win the World Cup this time,’ she added.
Nadim Hossain, a class 12 student from Haji Selim University College, was however worried about current injury problem of Bangladesh team but he believed the team had the potential to beat anyone on its own day.
‘I am very excited to see the World Cup trophy for the first time. Previously I watched it on TV but it’s a thrilling experience to watch it face-to-face.
‘We know our team is struggling with an injury problem, so I am a bit of concerned. However, I think Bangladesh can beat anyone if they get going,’ he added.
The coveted trophy is making its sixth stop of its global tour in Bangladesh and will travel to at least three Bangladesh cities – Dhaka, Sylhet and Chattogram.
The trophy will be displayed at the Jamuna Future Park today for the fans.
The trophy will then travel to Sylhet on Friday before making its final stop in Chattogram next day.
The tour of the trophy will end on October 21 and it then will travel to its next destination Nepal.
Source: New Age.