da realbet： Siddhartha Vaidyanathan on Shahriar Nafees, the architect of the win, and part of the upbeat and confident generation who face teams head on
Siddhartha Vaidyanathan in Jaipur13-Oct-2006
‘ I just wanted to make sure I batted for as long as possible’ – Shahriar Nafees © AFP
On a day when Bangladesh toasted their first Nobel Prize winner, thecricket team provided them with more good news, signing out of theChampions Trophy with a convincing win. Looked at in a certain manner, there is more than coincidence here. Muhammad Yunus, an economist, set up Grameen Bank and transformed his nation’s countryside. As for the Bangladesh side they are sponsored byGrameen Phone, a sister concern to the Grameen Bank. Talk of how better infrastructure and corporate sponsorship impacts performance.Shahriar Nafees, the architect of the win, batted like one inspired. He’spart of the upbeat and more confident generation who face teams head on.Just 28 one-dayers old and he’s already crossed fifty on five occasionsand made two hundreds, unlike any other Bangladeshi. Added to that is aTest hundred against the mighty Australians.Dav Whatmore had no doubt that the current crop came with a moreaggressive outlook, more fearless attitude. “It’s not a criticism of theolder guys,” he said at the end of the day, “they’ve done a lot forBangladesh cricket. But the younger guys seem to play with a lot lesspressure. They play for the day; they have some skill and a strong desire.They now have to show they can do it against the bigger teams.”Shahriar doesn’t seem to come to the crease with any sort of baggage.Against West Indies, he slapped the first ball for four, square-cutting itwith some venom. Such an approach has caused his downfall at times but ifyou’re instincts are to whack, you might as well go for it. Today henearly fell before scoring, surviving a dropped chance at cover afterscooping at a wide one, but cashed in by gritting it out. For the nexthour, it appeared as if he was atoning for that early indiscretion -grafting to his fifty off 92 balls.”It wasn’t an easy wicket to bat on,” Shahriar said, “and I just wanted tomake sure I batted for as long as possible. It would not have been easyfor a new batsman to get set and score immediately.” Soon he began toexpress himself. The next 73 came off 69, with Prosper Utseya being tonkedalong the way. There weren’t any half measures – down the track, dash;back-foot, punch; inside out, whack; through the line, pelt. He cramped uptowards the end but hobbled on, smashed a few more fours and ended notout.A student of Business Management, Shahriar’s development as a cricketer isa tribute to the junior system in Bangladesh. He’s someone who was spottedearly – in fact, he and Ashraful attended the same talent-spotting camp -and was nursed into international cricket. “He’s enjoyed the opportunityto tour other countries before he got the chance with the national team,”Whatmore added, “and has received valuable instructions at theacademy and A levels.”Shahriar and gang are just the early products of Bangladesh’s professionalsystem. It may not be too long before a tap is opened and if a bit ofsteel is added to the abundance of talent, Bangladesh may well be on theright track.