First time for everything

[al Furqaan]

I think this marks the first time that our boys will go into a match against a top side *expecting* a win. Maybe they expected to win the 4th ODI against New Zealand in that banglawash, maybe they didn't.

But the euphoria around this match is unmistakable. My cousin, who has not cared about cricket since the 99 WC messaged me from Dhaka last night saying "amra aajke jitsi". I was quite surprised as his mind has been everywhere but cricket for the past decade. Yet he watched the entire game against Sri Lanka.

Our boys are going into a game believing they're equals for the first time in a few hours. Instead of merely believing they "can" win, they now believe they will win.

Regardless of whether they bring the Cup home for the first time, or come just short. This has been an unspeakably successful series, regardless of what anyone else says.

Congratulations Tigers, we're proud of you, even if you lose by 300 runs today. And congratulations Tiger fans!