Strauss may quit captaincy

That's the kind of headline that makes me want to blog again.

Why wasn't it 'ECB likely to drop Strauss'? Guess Giles Clarke isn't done licking the Ashes off Strauss' ass yet.

But the truth is, here's an unfortunate natural, one way journey that Strauss, Ricky, Yunus Khan, Shakib and even Buffalo (for a long, long, long time) followed:

Good batsman---->Captain---->Shitty batsman

Those names are just a few off the top of my head. But once you become a shitty batsman only and ONLY your captaincy is keeping you in the team. Which poses the question, is it okay to sacrifice a batsman for a captain?

I'd say it depends on the batsman or the captain or even the team. In England's case it was the team. Strauss' replacement is Cook.

Now there's a headline that will make me blog again as well.

Congrats Shakib, but so what?

I see on Crapinfo in this glorious day at work (where I am sleeping) that Shakib has ended Jacques Kallis' reign at the top as a Test all-rounder. A great achievement to say the least. Toppling Jacques Kallis requires 10 more Jacques Kallis's. Both literally and metaphorically.

While I am very happy for Shakib, this is not good for the team. Remember when India only relied on Tendulkar and he was the only one bringing in the accolades? What did that do for India? Nothing. Of course Bangladesh is an even worst version of that Indian team, but honestly, this only means that the rest will rely on Shakib even more now. The attitude will be, we got Shakib and Shakib's got our back. Hence we will continue to be who we are. An embarrassment.

I haven't been watching their recent games because checking the scores on Crapinfo the next day makes me miserable enough. Bangladesh should probably give up their test status and register as a county team. If they will take them that is.Who wants a county team who ends most of their five-day ventures in two? And their one day ventures before lunch.

You would think that Shakib's continuous achievements would inspire the others. But no, they continue to pile it on the boy. It's quite sad really. Or really smart. Make him do all the work and take all the credit right?

FYI Bangladesh, it didn't work for India and it won't work for you.

You better believe it.

Pat Cummins is so young...

1. Pat Cummins is so young that by the time he was born, Justin Bieber was already a superstar.

2. Pat Cummins is so young that he needs a note from his parents to leave the hotel on players night out.

3. Pat Cummins is so young that Michael Jackson would have befriended him in a heart beat.

4. Pat Cummins is so young that when Liz Hurley walked by with Warnie, he could not stop his thingy from standing up.

5. Pat Cummins is so young, Ricky Ponting is considering him as a prospective husband for his daughter.

6. Pat Cummins is so young that every time he swears at a batsman, his mother come out and smacks him.

7. Pat Cummins is so young, Mitchell Marsh is his legal guardian.

8. Pat Cummins is so young it is illegal for a thirteen year old to have dirty thoughts about him.

9. Pat Cummins is so young, for him the first major event in World History was the death of Osama Bin Laden.

10. Pat Cummins is so young, Shakib is wondering whether it is actually time for him to retire.

11. Pat Cummins is so young, he can copy Sachin Tendulkar's voice perfectly.

12. Pat Cummins is so young, his physical features are still developing.

Else, that is a very unfortunate nose...

If I was paid...

I would sit and watch Stuart Broad score his first test hundred. But I didn't because they didn't pay me enough to rip my arms and legs off before watching. At that point, I thought that that would have been enough to downplay this horrible incident. Then Stuart Broad made 150.

If I was paid, I would also analyze this match-fixing scandal to the tiniest of fragments, giving my own opinions on Amer, Asif, Butt, Bangladesh being accused, Nathan Hauritz's plea to keep the legitimacy of his first fifer in test etc. etc.

But I am not. So I will just tell you what I feel.

I have no sympathy for Mohammad Aamer.
Mohammas Asif should really fucking grow up and realize that he just needs to be the best bowler in the world and nothing else. Which he already is, so I really don't see why he must engage in such behavior.
The rest who were involved in this scandal can go fuck themselves.

If I was paid, I would also probably hide my disappointment and keep this post perfectly devoid of emotions, but I wasn't so I won't. Fuck it! I probably wouldn't have been able to curb my emotions even if I had been paid.

When Hansie Cronje admitted to his crimes, I was shaken to the core. To many, this will sound silly but not to those who love cricket with a passion the way I do. When a player takes money to throw away the very thing that entertain, evoke emotions, pride, fierce loyalty all at the same time, it is an unimaginable betrayal. I am not exaggerating and you know it.

I don't buy scalped tickets, I never will. I don't buy fake jerseys and for a while now I have been saving up little by little to go visit Lords. There have been many downfalls to this plan of course but I start all over again. And when I walk into the ground there is a very good chance I will shed a tear. Like I did when Pollock retired, when Klusener got run out, when Shakib got stumped against England...

Dear cricketers, this is the level of attachment to this game. We too go broke so we can watch matches, travel to venues.

So your families were in danger, you could have told the police and gotten security. But how will you fix this hatred that live in the hearts of your fans now? Will you pay us too?

We won't take your tainted money. You can keep it. And as you are keeping it, do us a favour and make an exit as fast you can. I would rather watch a mediocre player than a great one who disrespects his greatness for money.

It's only day one

Tomorrow is a new day, except it's not because bloody Trott hasn't reached his 200 yet and will surely attempt to do so. I'm just hoping that bloody Trott has poor Kallis' bad luck and will fall a few runs short.

But bloody Morgan is also at 40 and will surely want his maiden 50 and then slaughter his way to his century on debut. Of course Bresnan and Prior will take this opportunity to make some more test runs. Prior needs it, his spot is on the line these days. Damn Strauss will probably make sure he gets this chance, since Kieswetter did just win the World Cup for Collingwood and Colly is after Strauss' job. He can't have that damn little spy in his team!

Our bloody bowlers will continue to give runs like Shahadat Hossain. Yes I know Shahadat has the third best bowling figures in the attack but I fucking can't believeit. That is just a measure of how shitty the rest were and nothing else. Believe me.

Bloody Shakib is still recovering from the bloody chicken pox and is probably fighting to stay awake on the field. I am going to find the person who gave Shakib chicken pox. Then I am going to give that person chicken pox again and tie them up and duct-tape their mouth, so they can't itch. I'll also leave a tape playing a scratching sound over and over again.

We might bat once Strauss gets bored with our bowlers (I suspect he won't easily because evidently, we cannot be taken lightly) and decides to man-handle our batsmen instead. I am just hoping for Tamim, Mahmudullah, Shakib and Mushfiq to show some guts. I am also hoping the bloody Poms realize that they need to give us something for getting Strauss, KP and Trott back to form. We are the most motivational team ever...for the opposition. There must be some sort of pay for this.

I have settled my fees on Lords. One Englishman by the name of Mark Chalcraft from Good Cricket Wicket is convinced we deserve it so we are almost there.

But for now, man up boys. There's still two more days of drubbing to go.

Missing: Shakib Al Hasan

DOB: March 24th, 1987

Missing: Since England's departure from Bangladesh-why couldn't they just take him with them in their luggage?

Age now: Teeny tiny 23

Sex: Male

Race: Rice and Fish

Hairy: Wavy black

Eyes: Deep brown and thoughtful

Height: 5ft 9 inch but looks smaller

Weight: Fit

Missing from: Mirpur Stadium, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Identifying Characteristics: Left arm covered in brilliance, fingers in the left arm able to produce bright lights, can be dangerous when carrying a bat, but only on days his brain is not infested by bacteria.

Last seen Shakib was upset at himself for getting himself stumped at the verge of his second test hundred. You can cearly understand why we are concerned.

Please contact: Worcestershire, or Alastair Cook who may be hiding him in his basement. 

Expected

I was very, very excited at the prospect of a draw or even a Bangladeshi win. Expectations make me delusional. But these delusions keep me sane and away from eternal depression. So I keep going back there.

Bangladesh lost the series 2-0. Not only did they lose, they lost the usual way. Someone played an irresponsible shot, someone was too ambitious to take a single and retain the strike and the bowling unit lost all their will to take wickets. Jamie Siddons had told us in an interview on Day 4 that if Bangladesh can get 200 and our spinners can capitalize on the 5th day turning wicket...you never know what's going to happen.

Bangladesh did get 200 and 9 more. But honestly, they should have got to at least 250. Naeem's shot left me staring at the screen in disbelief and somehow I knew Shakib was going to go down the track to bring his 100 up in style, although I kept on wishing he wouldn't. I don't forgive him for it, but I understand the temptation to show off at the brink of a second test hundred and one that could potentially save the test match.

Even after all that, the bowlers barely made a dent in the English line up. Obviously.

I see a lot of articles stating Shakib as a useless captain. He's not, but I won't waste my breath on why Bangladeshi supporters didn't expect any miracles from him or his team. But I will ask you this: if not Shakib, then who?

Mashrafe is sulking because they don't want to upset the balance that the team has reached under Shakib. He is not even willing to offer his services as a bowler, despite being Bangladesh's premium fast bowler. It is unfortuante that it had to be taken away from him without him getting the chance to prove himself but if this is his attitude towards the whole situation, then maybe it's for the best. How very matured of him right? Makes Shakib running down the track seem like a sane thing to do.

Or maybe Shakib became temporarily suicidal upon learning that he shares his birthday with Swannyg66 and his chin.

Shakib runs on battery

Batting in the first innings, out on 49.

Bowling in the first innings, a mammoth 66 overs (57 of them on one day), 27 maidens, 124 runs and 4 wickets.

Second innings, 25 not out, still at the crease.

Again, all hopes lie on Shakib. He may not deliver or he may score a century off 29 balls and then make England bat after lunch. He may then go on to take 6 English wickets, including the last English fast bowler standing. That wicket may come when there are two balls left for a draw.

Anybody see a Bangladeshi Vettori emerging here? Does this mean we will go as far as a team loved by all, difficult to beat on their day yet always beaten and of course plagued by injuries?

FML. 

It's all relative

One day as Mascaraman stood in front of the mirror applying makeup to his eyeballs to make it as pretty as his lashes, he had heard voices. A distant whisper, in a Goochie-like voice...

"Alastair...you can bowl".

So the next day he bowled. He presumed it was a bit like throwing water balloons at people. And he had plenty of experience in that department thanks to the lovely pajama parties hosted by Ms. Stuart. He conceded 111 runs in 5 overs. 111. Straight and symmetrical. Just like his mascara brush.

Offended that a worse bowler has emerged, Mitchell Johnson quickly moved to grab the spotlight. Except he kind of forgot to grab his own brain when running out the door and tried to borrow Scott Styris'. When Scott wouldn't give it to him, Mitchy went upto the brain and started calling it in a strange language, to get it to jump out. Mitchy huffed and he puffed, but it didn't budge. Then he tried banging it with his head. Bang, bang, bang...went Mitchy.

So great was the effect of Mitchy's banging that even Butt heard it over at Pakistan. Only the air particles and infinite sound waves floating around between New Zealand and Pakistan created a chinese whisper effect and the words reached Butt's ear as 'ban, ban, ban'. Next day, any Pakistani player who had dared to have luscious hair, facial or otherwise, were banned. They said it was about the cricket, but we doubt whether Pakistan actually plays cricket or shows up once in a while to make the world interesting. Regardless, you are now punishable by law for having hair.

Which is why Dan the man got rid of his beard and in the process brought back the frown lines on Ricky Ponting's monkey face when he decided to once again, defeat the opposition all by himself. Methinks Daniel is a bit of a loner, and that is kind of a problem because this ain't tennis. Or the French football team. But it is also true that his team frequently abandons him in their quest for zesty chicken now that KFC is their official sponsor. But not Dan. Dan can't be swayed by them birds.

Chicken talk inevitably leads to the dashing Bangladeshi captain. No, the real one. The one who has given up playing altogether for unknown reasons. Mashrafe Mortaza is missing. Nobody knows why. Please find him. His team got our hopes high for a brief period (you think we have learnt our lessons by now) and his deputy took atrocious captaining to a new level. Neither the good nor the bad had anything to do with him, but according to Shakib the old Mashrafe has disappeared and the new one is no good.

Maybe the old one has gone for a walk with Lara Bingle, who, after showing too much, has also disappeared. Before that however, she made her beloved fly back home...only to end things. These are times when I am in full support of phone break ups. Think of all the paper that we would have saved had Clarke not flown back and the media not gone crazy. And think of all the paper they will be using when Clarke gets into another relationship and the papparazzi tries to get a statement from Bingle. I don't give a shit about the matter of their hearts, I just want the trees saved.

In extension, while you are saving trees, it is a reasonably good idea to save the Zimbabwean cricket team. A team that can beat West Indies with Chris Gayle playing is a team that deserves to be showered in Gayle's sunglasses and have Gayle serve them. At least for a night. Please can people play Zimbabwe more often?

Maybe we should have a team called the Zimbabwean Chris Gayle Beaters in IPL 4. I will get Bouch to twit his Modiness.

IPL3

Let me remind you again that Kemar Roach is my new obsession.

Before him it was Fidel Edwards but he has been missing for a while now. I have put ads on every milk bottle available in West Indies. Hopefully the gap in his teeth will seek it out and return. 

Kemar Roach was bought by the Deccan Chargers at IPL3. I started watching IPL from the second season where I got bored half-way through. So I am no IPL expert and I only half care about BRC and Deccan Chargers because of the Saffers. Sometimes when I remember Albie's one hit wonder, literally, I watch Chennai too. But not for long because M.S. Dhoni leads to nightblindess in Canada.

I desprately want Ashraful and Mortaza out of Mumbai and KKR. Thankfully, Shakib has not been added to this list as he went unsold again, probably because of his international commitments. I think he would have been available for only like four games. But this is just a theory as again, I don't know much about the IPL.

But I do know about Kemar Roach.
Kemar Roach likes to hurt hairy goblins.
Kemar Roach likes to bowl fast in the hopes that the ball will actually kill somebody.
Kemar Roach then smiles, like a sweet little assassin.
Kemar Roach is a direct descendant of Walsh and Ambrose.
Kemar Roach is only 21.

I have said Kemar Roach about eight times in this article. It is intentional.

Bangladesh bowling

Bangladesh is probably the only international team in cricket right now that can't bowl their fast bowlers a full ten overs. And not just because they lose the game way before the 50 overs are done, but because Shakib and sometimes another spinner bowls 10.

Fine and dandy. The quickies get whacked, Shakib goes to slow shit down. The difference? The other team wins with a minimum 15 balls remaining instead of the average 507.

To be fair, they won the toss only once and elected to bat first like idiots. So we can't really say if the bowling is just that horrible or it's the dew that's deciding the game.

Again, fine and dandy. Doesn't change the fact that we don't have a wicket-taking bowler.

Shakib can't do it all.
The batsmen can't keep on scoring well and then watch their hard work go down the drain.
Then of course there are the days when both Shakib and the batsmen sleep through the whole game.

In all three types of matches, we don't have a single wicket taking bowler. I miss Mortaza so much I wish I could watch him bowl during the death overs.

And my posts on Bangladesh are getting as repetitive as their result.

Also, India is playing Sri Lanka. Again.

I think these two teams are caught in a bizarre cycle formed by the combined efforts of Yuvraj and Kandambi's bellies. Not a very nice place to be in, is it boys?

Get out already. Before you kill us all.

A Canadian in the IPL

Sadly, it's not me.

Evidently, a man from my country of residence has made it to the short list of IPL3. As I am shamelessly oblivious to Canadian Cricket, I had no idea of his existence. But he is a big hitter and holds a record for hitting ten sixes in a T20 tournament. In short, IPL lovers will adore him.

What you guys don't know is that Lalit Modi has drafted him to show the ICC that the IPL can do more for non-test playing nations than regular cricket. It is his continued quest to get T20 to take over the cricket world. Right now, everyone is too overwhelmed by tests and loving every second of it. Lalit can't handle it, it's too much for the ATM machine he calls his heart. So he brings in fresh blood, even if it is frozen.

That Lalit is one clever bastard. And the bastard has also got his hands around Shakib. FUCKING HELL! I have failed to keep my Shakib protected. My only consolation now, will be if he is bought by the Deccan Chargers so my Hersch can keep him safe.

But, even after all this, I am happy for Cheema because he is a Torontonian. I hope he sets Lalit's money-making ass on fire with his big-hitting. With the Toronto Raptors, Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Blue Jays around, god knows we need someone to be doing well in sports.

For your information those are our Basketball, Hockey and Baseball teams and they all suck. Big time.

Ricky's ghost

First, Ricky's ghost convinces Mortaza that he is Nathan Bracken and should never consider himself fit after a knee injury. Even 80% is not good enough.

Second, Ricky's ghost climbs into bed with Shakib.

Third, Ricky's ghost stays with Shakib till the toss, wins the toss (that part has more to do with Shakib's ghost than Ricky's) and forces Shakib to say 'We will bat first. Dew? What dew? Our own dew won't go against us. We will show 'em how it's done'.

Fourth, Ricky's ghost bats for Shakib and goes out to an unexpected direct hit from afar during a comfortable couple.

Fifth, Ricky forces Shakib to turn to Ashraful during desperate times, just the way he turns to Shane Watson. Problem: Ashraful is not an all-rounder. Not a twat, but not an all-rounder either.

Sixth, Ricky gives Shakib's post match interview:

"We are getting runs consistently, that's a plus for us. When we got early wickets, we thought we had a chance, but they got a good partnership, all credit to them." 

Seventh, Ricky goes home with Shakib. Tomorrow they have to play Sri Lanka and Ricky must do it all over again.

Oh Bangladesh!

Sixty-five for nothing, they were. In the thirteenth over too. Smashing, hooking, cutting, driving- Tamim and Imrul did it all. Uda was as stunned as we were when we first heard his name.

Then the brain explosions started happening. Shockingly, Shakib was a part of the brain explosion, and Ashraful was not! He is the reason we got to 260 actually, along with Mushfiq's cameo and Mahmudullah's knock. I swear Mushfiq is the tiniest thing to ever hold a bat. Whenever he hits a four, I am always on the edge of my seat because I am sure that he will fly to the boundary with the ball. But he never does, bless his tiny structure.

Right, so 260 wasn't ideal with the start they got, but it was marginally defendable right? Even with Bangladesh.

Wrong. The other team has Dilshan. And with him even 400 is not a defendable total. Add our fast bowlers to that and one over from Ashraful (Shakib, my love...HE CAN'T BOWL) and it's a comfortable victory.

Fucking Dilshan, making my life miserable. Do it against other teams honey, otherwise I may have to injure you.

On second thought, maybe I will injure you...

Mortaza needs a prosthetic knee

Next week, along with my beloved Saffers, my lovely BD boys also embark on a tournament. It is my favourite kind, a tri-nation series. The other two teams are India and Sri Lanka. Here's the squad:

Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Mushfiqur Rahim (vice-capt and wk), Mohammad Ashraful, Abdur Razzak, Tamim Iqbal, Syed Rasel, Raqibul Hasan, Mahmudullah, Nazmul Hossain, Naeem Islam, Imrul Kayes, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Shahriar Nafees, Aftab Ahmed

Fucking Mortaza has still not recovered from his knee injury. He is 80% fit but will not play because the selectors don't want to risk injuring him again. Once again poor Rubel will have to do the 'fast' bowling by himself, if he can! The spinners will be the main attacking option...against India and Sri Lanka. I can't think of a worse team plan. No wait, there is one more. Mushfiq is the Vice-captain of this team. As much as I love him for being the most annoying thing behind the wickets EVER, that is just fucked up right there. Even Tamim would have been a saner choice.

Good news is Shakib will be tested by Dhoni. He might not be the best captain to learn from but he sure as hell is better than Reifer! Bring it on mane-less boy!
 
A thought just crossed my mind. Maybe Mortaza is afraid of stepping into Shakib's successful shoes as stand-in captain. Fuck Mortaza! Be a man. You are a fast bowler for fuck's sake!

History loves Shakib

Another day, another piece of history created by Shakib. He became the first Bangladeshi player to be signed by an English county side, Worcestershire. I am hopelessly ignorant about county cricket, so I have no clue how they are as a team. But who cares? County, good exposure, upcoming series in England. You see where I am going with this.

Sometimes I wonder which Bangladesh loving cricket god made Shakib. And why he has stopped making more. What will it take to produce more Shakibs in Bangladesh? Strauss deciding to come to Bangladesh after all? Richie Benaud advocating another petition to retract BD's test status? Prodigal child Cricket Minded's return to Bangladesh?

Whatever it is, I am willing to make it happen. More Shakibs is directly proportional to more critics being silenced. Bangladesh still have many detractors, but a good number have stapled their mouth shut just in case the ICC does decide to listen to them. That means they will not get to ogle at Shakib anymore. And that's what they really want to do. Perv on the little beast while shit-talking his team.

My real concern at the moment however, is if Worcestershire have moats and dragons to protect my beloved assassin from his Modiness. Does Worcestershire have the balls to say, "Fuck off Modi! This Deshi is ours"?

No? No problem. The BCB's got him tied up with international commitments for the first half of IPL 3. I'll take care of the rest.

Mrs. Shakibs everywhere

Shakib-Al-Hasan is Bangladesh's most eligible bachelor. Since his discovery and his fantastic rise to fame, girls have been pleading and begging their parents to get them married to the boy.

"There are a good number of marriage offers. I've lost count of the number", Shakib told Crapinfo.

The guy is just 22, and if he had not been a cricketer he would probably have been spending his day checking out girls, writing love letters and possibly stalking them (it happens!). Now that he is famous, females all over the country are vying to be Mrs. Shakib-Al-Hasan.

And he hasn't even received an IPL contract yet. How many offers do you think will come when Modi the pimp prostitutes Shakib to one of the corporate whores? Probably over a million. And considering our population is 160 million and 50% of it should be female, that number has some suspect characters in it. Characters that I'm sure don't interest the eligible Shakib.

I wonder if I can lure him with my Canadian passport...

1-1

YEAH BITCHES! My stern talks never fail. Neither does my Shakib when he gets going. I was only able to catch the first half an hour of this match as it started at an ungodly hour and while I am usually up during ungodly hours, yesterday was the longest day ever!

Anyway, I caught enough of the match to see that Dolar and Nazmul were getting fucking hammered before Shakib the great stepped in to slow the run-rate down. How nice to see a spinner actually doing his job (*cough*Harbajan*cough*). I also caught enough of the match to realize that our pace attack minus Mashrafe is a joke. Which is sad and worrying and just a plain what the fuck situation. Specially with Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka all having effective genuine pacers in their teams now.

What pleases me specially about the match is that for once Shakib was not the doer of all. He killed with the bat and Razzak, my beauty, killed with the ball. 9.2 overs, 29 runs, 5 wickets, 0 extras. That is top-class bowling. Even if it is at home and against Zimbabwe.

But what to do with Raful? Bastard scored only 3 in a match where every other Bangladeshi batsmen went to double figures! But, the bastard also took 2 wickets. God damn! Somewhere, somehow he gains a lifeline the minute it looks like he is about to be dropped. But seriously, he should STILL be dropped. It's not like someone else wouldn't have taken those two wickets (probably Shakib). Honestly, how many times have you seen this picture?


Way too many times. We are done being patient with him. Go back to the practice nets you moron! While we revel at the subjects of these pictures.

105 off 60 balls...SFA specialty

Joy to the world!

This is the leader of the SFA speaking

Shakib,
I am displeased by the team's performance against the Zimbabweans. I am also unhappy with your performance. I know you are trying to hide from Lalit Modi, but once you are in the Sweet-Faced Assassin group, it is a sin to change into a mellow kitten. Also to lose your sweet face, so never grow facial hair.

Mushfiq,
You did well the other day little one. Keep it up and hit Chigumbura for some sixes. Then, hum the tune of 'Candle in the wind' in his ear.

Mashrafe,
Are you secretly Australian...or Nathan Bracken? Why the fuck is it taking you this long to recover from your injury?

Ashraful,
Since I am a woman of considerable power I am doing you a favour and getting ICC to change the laws for Bangladesh only. You are now officially the runner for one batsman of your choice. Just run, don't hit the ball, don't even go near the ball. Run straight when it is not risky to do so. IF you are run out after this, keep on running. Because I am going to come for your life. No matter where you are.

For inspiration, because you lot clearly need some, I am posting the video of your win against India in WC07. It's only the Indian wickets and three minutes long, because the game starts soon.




That's all.

Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe

WOOHOO! My boys are finally playing. It's just against Zimbabwe, but my lovelies have been out of action for so long! I just hope my pathetic cricket channel broadcasts this series.

A lot of you don't know my team that well. But I am telling you they are worth knowing. Their growth as a team have been pathetically slow, but these boys are still the bomb. I say that because of the following reasons:

1) The oldest person in this squad is a 27 year old left-arm spinner called Abdur Razzak. The most experienced player is Mohammad Ashraful, who is 25 years old. Imagine, being in this squad and representing a country whose number one passion is the sport that you play. Imagine, having to cope with this pressure at this age and delivering. Because they will deliver. As dangerous as Zimbabwe's batting line up is looking at the moment (they rocked the warm up matches), my boys will be on top.

2) Our captain, is actually the vice-captain and filling in for the injured Mashrafe Mortaza (who seriously, needs to recover FAST!). Shakib is 22. There is one other 22 year old captain I know who was a moron at that age and never got any respect. He goes by the name of Graeme Smith. Shakib is humble, modest and still a good leader. Something Biff needs to learn.

3) We came very close to our first ever Test victory in our third year as a test team. We lost to Pakistan by only 1 wicket. Those were the days when Pakistan actually played test cricket and was good at it.

4) In our first ever test match, we made a first innings total of over 400 against India.

5) We have one day wins against the first XI of Australia, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka. Look at that, four out of those five teams make the top half of the current ICC rankings! The win against Australia shut up all those people who wanted our test status revoked (Richie Benaud is an ass!) and the win against India was clinical in their first round exit from WC07. These two are my favourite. There are some lovely videos of all our wins on Youtube. I will be sharing some of them with you soon.

6) I know people who followed the team around during the 2007 World Cup and met them. That year, Bangladesh had one of its worse flood ever. To raise money for the flood victims my acquaintances organized an event, where they came up with the idea of auctioning off genuine Bangladeshi jerseys. When Shakib was contacted, he promptly sent over the jersey he wore at the match against India, which Bangladesh had won and where Shakib was one of the top scorers.

That last one is a true story. And its not meant to raise sympathy votes for a team that clearly could achieve so much more than they do, for whatever reasons. It's just one of my favourite stories regarding my BD boys. I am so happy to be able to see them play again!