****Minhazul Abedin set a phenomenal benchmark for the aspiring youth of this games-loving nation. Having gone through prolonged analysis and debate, the Star Sport came to find that none of our sports 'icons'stands at par with this vintage cricketer from Chittagong. Seemingly though, the older Minhaz gels the brighter he becomes. That's why Star Sport's verdict for the 1999 Sportsperson-of the-Year goes to this veteran of nearly two decades. We sincerely feel that Minhaz should be the symbol of Bangladesh cricket and a source of inspiration for the new generation cricketers. Here our Senior Reporter Al-Amin depicts the combative character of this charismaticcricketer in words.****

What should be the ideal age for a sportsman to unearth the richest vein of his talent? In his teens or early twenties? Experts might come up with a hypothetical conclusion that it should be between 25-30. But, for a few, it is too early to reach the peak.

There are some evergreen athletes who can defy the conventional age barrier and hit the top form even at 35. Minhazul Abedin, fondly called Nannu by fans, is one of (hose rare breeds.

The Chittagonian walked into the glory at an age when many thought he had little more to offer. Making his critics munch on their words, Minhaz reached the pinnacle of success striking (wo successive half-centuries in the World Cup in England last year. I lis fifty against Scotland throttled Bangladesh to their first win in the big stage. To disprove that it was a flash in the pan, the right-hander then braved die mighty Australian attack for his second and most memorable half-century.

His efforts against the top cricket nation was the motivating force for our cricketers to pull off die biggest triumph in the history of Bangladesh's sports, humbling hot favourites Pakistan by 62 runs in the next match.

To many, it was the second best thing happened to the Bangladeshis since its independence in 1971.

The delectable double knocks in the twilight of his career have certainly made Minhaz a pioneer sportsman of the country who leads by example. The Daily Star Sport- however considers his Succr$s asa reward Of his perseverance and hard work.

Thu 1999 would certainly be remembered as an extraordinary year for Minhaz, wher^ his determination and dedication both on and off the field prevailed over sheer adversity.

At rhe beginning of the year it appeared that Minhaz’s career, spanning over 17 years, was all but over when he was left out of the World Cup-bound squad. lie was included in the preliminary list of 30 but got the shock of his life finding his name missing on the register of final sixteen. His omission caused a huge uproar among the country's cricket connoisseurs.

It was however not for his performance in the domestic cricket, where he scored more runs than any other local players, that Minhaz got the chop. The 'wise' gang, led by the then chief selector Enayet Hossain Siraj, almost shattered the World Cup dream of the feisty cricketer and Bangladesh's as well for reasons best known to them.

"I had sleepless nights when they dropped me for no good reason. But I'm a firm believer in the Almighty. If the divine blessings are with someone then no mortal can do any harm to that person. However, I think, justice was eventually done and I was finally picked," said Minhaz to the Star Sport on December 29.

Minhaz lost his father at a tender age when the occupied Pakistan force during the sanguinary war of 1971 killed Shamsul Abedin. The introvert boy of seven then grew up in the affectionate care of his mother Dil Afroze Abedin.

"She was my tutor. 1 have

learned to live with adversity from iny mother", said Minhaz, who started his luminous career way back in 1981.

Although Minhaz is not at all an elegant batsman or a great hitter of the ball, his little nudge and push have earned him the tag of a runmachine. The most interesting facet of his talent was his ability to

flourish under pressure. He walked away with many a win in the domestic cricket at a position when others thought it impossible.

His ability to excel when the chips are down defines the character of a class cricketer.

"1 never consider what Happened yesterday. I might have scored a century in the last match.

But that’s history. Every time I walk into the middle I always tell myself this is the beginning of my career," said Minhaz.

The diminutive right-hander was an 'indispensable' middleorder batsman unril he was dropped from the national team in 1997. The axe might intimidate other cricketers at his age ro call it quits. But Minhaz is different of

This correspondent still remembers that Instant reaction of Minhaz’s. "Take it from me, I will be beck in the side," .promised the confident cricketer while practising alone at the barren Dhaka Stadium after his mates left for New Zealand

tour.

"That was for the first time I was dropped from the national team. It hurt me, but that decision (of Board) was a blessing in disguise for me. It worked like a tonic on me, and now I'm motivated enough to keep on playing competitive cricket for another five years," said Minhaz.

The hard-working cricketer scored a lot of runs for Mohammedan in 1997. Yet he failed to convince the selectors for a place in the Independence Cup. But the indifferent attitude of rhe men with impaired in telligence failed to deter the determination of a desperate Minhaz.

He switched to a lowly-rated Surjo Tarun in the following year. Many felt it was a suicidal move lot Minhaz ahead of the World Cup.

"I was well aware of the fact that it was a very risky move especially with the World Cup at close. People who care for me advised me to stay biick in Mohammedan. But, 1 always believe that if I cam perform

I will get my rightful place no matter which team 1 play."

Minhaz did what he believed. He scored more than five hundred runs including two centuries for Surjo Tarun. His relentless effort paid dividend and the rest was history.

Minhaz got the reward of his perseverance when he toured Australia along with the Prime Minister, a privilege that no other player had achieved earlier.

Many feel that Minhaz’s career could have been even colourful had the out-spoken cricketer been a little more discreet in his expression. Being a shrewd tactician, Minhaz however has had a surprisingly little stint as captain of the national team. His captaincy came to an abrupt end following a row with former coach Mohinder Amarnath in 1994. Interestingly, the naive but adamant-cricketer looks at it differently.

"I was never hungry for the post. Had I been so 1 would not have opposed Mohinder (former India cricketer). Being a cricketer I always tried to say what I believed. It might have hurt someone, but I never said anything behind anybody's back," said Minhaz adding that it would have been a different story altogetherhadheled Bangladesh in the Kenya ICC Trophy in 1994. Bangladesh slumped to their worst-ever ICC Trophy result that eventually dashed their hopes of playing in the World Cup for the first time.

Apart from his ability to lead from the front, Minhaz is an out-and-out professional in a country' where hardly anything can be termed so. And it is that sheer professionalism which has helped

him to be so successful for > many years. Money had never eon Lis main motivating force, it is the desire of a professional that constantly drives him to be perfectionist in his works. And it was his exceptional approach that compelled hi unfriendly coach Mohinder to sing praises of Minhaz. In his undisclosed report on that infamous Kenya tour, the under-fire Indian sir'd nut

Minhaz as 'a true y I*

while he allegedly I

mates of lacking'patriot i

Coming from a faimi ihal has sports culture, Minhaz grew up as a complete cricketer playing alongside the professional English cricketers for a long time.

"I have absorbed the rea essence ot a professional cricket* while play ing in England. Peopl here tend to misinterpret profel sionalism.

’I never chased money. Rather, have focused on my perfornianoi Because, 1 know money wil automatically come if you perforn I have seen a lot of talente cricketers spoiling their careel while chasing money", sail

This -mld-manm red hero ( Banglad 'll bats to glory with a uncoini n ’Vampi" willow. Bi we do hope that, if i t his bat, hi will and approach o the gain become more and more comma amongo' voungcch keters.