Habibul Bashar Interview

[Zeeshan]

Habibul Bashar

'Playing for Bangladesh is the best thing that happened to me'

Habibul Bashar was in the side (though he nearly wasn't) when Bangladesh played their first Test, and for many of the other high and low points in their cricket history
Interview by Mohammad Isam
June 17, 2013


It was a huge decision for me to leave my hometown, Kushtia, to play cricket in Dhaka. Cricket was not a career option in Bangladesh back in 1988.
The motivation was always to play the best cricket. We were competitive but financially it was very different from now.
I was part of the inaugural Test squad, but I was dropped and told to go home from BKSP [Bangladesh Sports Institute]. That was another shock for me, because I was quite a regular with the national team. My wife came to pick me up, and she saw how upset I was.
I have met a lot of cricketers in my career, but Steve Waugh was totally different. He was at a different level.
I was the sort of player who needed mental reinforcement. I needed to be told I was doing well. Coaches have a big role to play in these situations.
In 2003 I made runs against South Africa and Australia, but the Pakistan tour was one that I enjoyed the most. I scored a lot of runs there, and I dominated their bowling attack.
My maiden hundred was a big relief, because I had made a few fifties in Test cricket. I remember every moment of it, and I ended up getting out to Grant Flower to a ball pitched way outside leg stump. I really need that hundred.
I still can't understand why I did badly in the two World Cups. I survived the 2003 tournament, but the 2007 World Cup finished my international career.

Full below


http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/conte...ry/640759.html

[Zeeshan]

why do all players say playing for my country has the best thing ever happened to me. duh. thats like me saying : i like cricket

[BengaliPagol]

Reading the interviews i had several WTF moments. Here was a couple

One day towards the end of the 2007 World Cup campaign, there was a huge argument in the team. We were there for a long time, so the players were getting agitated. Our physio put us through a tough training regime towards the end, where he put us in a competition. Right at the end of a volleyball game, there was a point that went in one team's favour and then all hell broke loose. Everyone went mad. Rajin Saleh chased Mashrafe, Ashraful and Javed [Omar] had a hot argument. Whatmore and I decided to take strict action but when we went back to them, I saw they had all mended their differences and were rolling on the floor laughing.

It struck me that the Australians may have differences but they enjoyed the game, enjoyed each other's company and they looked like a family. I tried to copy this in the Bangladesh team, and I think I did a few things differently from that day onwards. I wanted everyone to spend time together in our team.

I still can't understand why I did badly in the two World Cups.

The last one made no sense.

[Zeeshan]

Originally Posted by BengaliPagol
Reading the interviews i had several WTF moments. Here was a couple

The last one made no sense.

All these self-deprecation should not be confused with "pseudo-humility". Sans Ash, Tamim-Shakib may be not the "pioneer", but at least they don't have excuse for sorry-axe stats. I like some of his comments about captaincy, but his abbreviated moniker is the reason why he'd still remain haba.

[Zeeshan]

And re: "enjoying each others company" or other stuffs, come'on bp, did you for a second think Shamim Cowdrey had not hand in this?

[Zunaid]

Originally Posted by Zeeshan
And re: "enjoying each others company" or other stuffs, come'on bp, did you for a second think Shamim Cowdrey had not hand in this?

Why is this a bad thing? Team building and cream loyalty is an essential ingredient to corporate (and team sport) success. You have to feel the bond. You need have your teammate's back. If you haven't been inebriated together, you haven't learned to bare and share.

[Zeeshan]

Lol, me and bp are on the same boat I think, O Doc! You are too "innocent" unless you are being sarcastic. But I don't wanna get banned over discussing players in mud wrestling.

[Zunaid]

BP, of the cannot average infamy, does not have the mind in the gutter like yours. There's nothing wrong with mud wrestling either. Don't be such a bigot.

[BengaliPagol]

Originally Posted by Zeeshan
And re: "enjoying each others company" or other stuffs, come'on bp, did you for a second think Shamim Cowdrey had not hand in this?

Bangladesh not uniting as a team makes me worried

I though Shamim's charms and swagger can make the team come closer together to form a supergroup called...

tumi ato shundur oh oh... that's what makes you beautful.

[BengaliPagol]

The word bigot always seemed like a sophisticated swear word to me.

[Antora]

Rajn Saleh chased Mashrafe!? hahahahah

[BengaliPagol]

Habibul Bashar actually did a full interview in English? Hahahaha