For Bangladesh, a Check collection towards India is a throwback to gaining Check standing by the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC), a name that was pushed by the Board for Management of Cricket in India (BCCI).
The wheels had been set in movement on the 1999 ODI World Cup, the place Bangladesh made their first-ever look within the match’s historical past.
On the match, the debutants defeated Scotland to register their first-ever win and even registered an unlimited upset by besting one of many favorites, Pakistan by 62 runs.
It was a driving issue, however the actual push got here from former BCCI President and the-then ICC chief Jagmohan Dalmiya, who in 2000 helped Bangladesh turn into the tenth nation to realize the Check taking part in standing by a unanimous vote.
Bangladesh then performed their inaugural Check match towards India on November 10, 2000 beneath the captaincy of Naimur Rahman in Dhakar. Led by Sourav Ganguly, India would greatest the hosts by a complete margin of 9 wickets.
Nonetheless, Animul Islam went on to turn into the primary Bangladeshi to attain a ton within the longest format of the sport – a resilient 145 runs off 380 balls.
An emotional hug
Chatting with The Each day Star, Islam would share the overwhelming feelings that took over when he first realized Bangladesh had attained Check standing.
It was upon the persistence of the-then ICC President, Jagmohan Dalmiya (proper) that Bangladesh performed their first-ever Check towards a Sourav Ganguly-led India. (Categorical picture)
“I do not forget that day once we obtained the Check standing. I used to play for a membership in England again then,” Islam mentioned.
“I bear in mind it was about 11 or 12 within the afternoon and I used to be standing outdoors the assembly room at Lords. (Mohammad) Ashraful bhai, in teary eyes, got here to me and hugged me as he mentioned, ‘Bulbul, we had been unanimously voted for the Check standing. We obtained it.’ Saber bhai joined us later and we three celebrated vigorously,” he added.
Lengthy look ahead to first triumph
Following their first Check towards India, Bangladesh went on to lose 15 Check collection – shedding 28 off the 31 Assessments they performed throughout the identical.
Their first match/collection win got here 5 years after they performed their first Check – in 2005 – towards Zimbabwe in a two-match collection. Following that, they’d have to attend for one more 4 years for his or her subsequent collection win, which was their first away collection win – towards West Indies.
As of 2024, Bangladesh have gained solely eight Check collection. In opposition to India, Bangladesh has performed 14 Check matches however is but to register a win, having misplaced 13 instances and drawn as soon as.