The cricketing world has been abuzz with matches, performances and on-and-off-the-field incidents throughout 2009. The last twelve months has seen plenty of excitement, controversy and talking points.
Australia retained their Champions Trophy title and remained the team to beat in one-day cricket. But their supremacy in the Test arena has been reduced by India and South Africa who have performed consistently. The most recent and lucrative format of the game, Twenty20 cricket has flourished so much in the past year that cricketers and cricket pundits around the world have started to question the viability of all the three formats. Twenty20 has fascinated cricket lovers to such an extent that domestic cricket has gone way beyond borders.
The cricketing world had its fair share of controversies too. The ever-present turmoil of Pakistan cricket was heightened by terror attacks on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore, its aftermath took Pakistan's rights to host the 2011 World Cup. While Zimbabwe cricket seemed to have resolved their troubles, new troubles and more complex ones have sprung up and threatened to tear down West Indies cricket Differences in opinion or authority have counted for top jobs in England, New Zealand and Pakistan. Cricket's allegiance with a corrupt Texan billionaire has tarnished the game's image to a great extent
Amidst all these excitement and controversies, Bangladesh have enjoyed a very successful year. Fourteen one-day victories out of nineteen and two Test wins in three is by no means a mean achievement And when that feat is achieved by a 'cricketing minnow', it becomes all the more praiseworthy. Yes, that is what Bangladesh have achieved in the international cricket scene in the last calendar year, which, by any criteria, marks itself as
Bangladesh's best year in cricket After the cricketing doldrums in 2008 when Bangladesh won only five ODIs out of 26 and lost some of their best cricketers to a rebel cricket league, the year 2009 brought many occasions to cheer about for Bangladesh cricketers and fans.
The highest point of the year was inarguably the away series victory at West Indies. Albeit against a weakened West Indies side, it was a moment to cherish when one considers that Bangladesh have managed only one Test win prior to that in its nine years. On both sides of that Test and one-day series victories in the Caribbean, are two resounding 4-1 one-day series wins against Zimbabwe. It won't be an overstatement to say that Bangladesh have, at long last, started to discover the art of winning. Judging individual performances, one name comes to the fore in a big way: Shakib Al Hasan. In fact, it was Shakib's efforts that were reflected in all the glories of the Bangladesh cricket team. His achievements and accolades have been something that adorned the sports pages of newspapers around the world. One black spot for Bangladesh cricket in the last year was their poor showing in the T\venty20 matches, playing three and losing all of them. The lowest point was probably the defeat at the hands of Ireland, who have developed a habit of getting the better of Bangladesh each time they meet. Apart from the disappointment in the TWenty20 World Cup, Bangladesh cricket has been through a rosy pitch. Enthusiasm for the game has reached new highs at home with the success of the national side. Domestic cricket has drawn packed crowd to the stadia after a long time. The reintroduction of rebel ICL cricketers into the mainstream has undoubtedly been a factor behind this turnout. And now that some of them are qualifying themselves for the national side with performances, it all bodes good omen for cricket in the coming years. And all that is good will be called for, for Bangladesh will face much sterner tests in a very busy cricket calendar thisyear.