ICC World T20 2016: 5 biggest moments from the Bangladesh-Pakistan game

Every second, the future becomes the past. A moment. Many moments. What you once anticipated becomes a part of the unchangeable history. The Bangladesh-Pakistan clash at the Eden Gardens yesterday was no different as well.Many fans hoped. While the Pakistanis prayed that their team would be at its very best in a ground that has been ever favourable to them, the Bangladeshis hoped that their team would keep up the winning streak against eternal rivals.In the end, Pakistan won the high-octane encounter. And quite comprehensively too. Almost every player in the Pakistan team displayed their wrath in a fashion that blew away the Tigers. In a belter of a pitch, Shahid’s Afridi’s men batted first and posted a mammoth 202 runs target for Mashrafe’s boys—and they fell short.Some moments defined the game and here are 5 of them.

#1 The National Anthems

Bangladesh National anthem — The Bangladesh team stands to sing the national anthem.

National Anthems are always a matter of emotions for the people of related countries. One can see many people in tears when their country’s anthem is being played—it is one of the most beautiful sights ever.

Seeing Bangladesh and Pakistan anthems being played serially was impossible at one point. Hence, seeing the history of these two countries, this moment holds a lot of importance as it shows how the game unites countries that were once in a brutal and bloody war.

When the Eden Garden sang the Sonar Bangla, Bangladesh’s National Anthem, it filled Bangladeshis at home with pride—and why wouldn’t it? Listening to your National Anthem roaring in the stadium of another country is always a matter of utmost joy.

#2 Mohammed Hafeez finding his touch

Mohammad Hafeez(L) celebrates after scoring a half-century against Bangladesh.

At one point in his career, Mohammed Hafeez was among the best all-rounders in the world. Opening the batting and, sometimes, also the bowling for Pakistan, he displayed sheer class with both the bat and the bowl. Having him in the team was like having two players simultaneously.

However, a dip in form meant that he was no longer as feared as he once was. But all that changed yesterday with his brilliant knock.

Hafeez hasn’t had a very good year thus far and become one of the key reasons for top order’s lack of consistency. Yesterday, however, his intent was clear from the very first ball—he was not going to stick around and play the support role for his partner, he was going to take the attack to the bowlers.

And so he did. In a vintage knock, he provided the perfect start for Shahid Afridi to launch the attack. In the end, he was unlucky to get out for 64 as it took a…

#3 near-impossible catch from Soumya Sarkar

Bangladesh were already in trouble by this point. Shahid Afridi seemed like he had no Maggi noodles waiting for him in the dressing room and started his carnage on the pitch. Mohammed Hafeez, meanwhile, was settled and didn’t look in any hurry to throw his wicket away.

Since fast bowlers couldn’t find the wicket Mashrafe was looking for, he turned to Arafat Sunny. The slow left-armer, however, would have also got a similar treatment…if it wasn’t for Soumya Sarkar.

As Mohammed Hafeez took the aerial route towards deep midwicket, the ball looked destined to go over for a six. Soumya Sarkar, however, denied the ball its destiny. The youngster, running at full speed, jumped as high as he could and grabbed the ball with both of his hands to take a clean catch.

But momentum was taking him over the boundary, so he threw the ball up in the air, went over the ropes, came back in and completed the catch. It was the best moment for Bangladesh in a game that was totally dominated by Pakistan. We probably won’t see a better catch than that in the whole tournament.

#4 Boom Boom Afridi

Watching the Boom Boom version of Shahid Afridi is always a delight. The raw strength that he possesses and the sheer way he uses it to power the ball across the boundary leaves the opponents in dismay as to whether he is actually human or not.

His best with the bat might come as rarely as a pop song with sensible lyrics these days, but when it does, it blows everyone over—leaving even the opposition team in awe of him.

Afridi’s stay on the pitch was just over 30 minutes. In that time, he faced 19 balls and smacked a blazing 49 runs that took Pakistan’s score over 200. But that wasn’t all. With the bowl, he took the very important wickets of Sabbir Rahman and Tamim Iqbal—the two most in-form players of Bangladesh at the moment.

In the end, it was a perfect performance from the Pakistan captain—setting an example in how to lead with intent.

#5 Mohammad Amirs glory

Mohammad Amir celebrates after the dismissal of Bangladesh's Soumya Sarkar.

Not long ago, Mohammad Amir was one of the outcasts of the Pakistan cricket team. After being convicted for fixing, he spent five painful years watching his dream on television. But deep down, he knew that it wasn’t over.

That little fire in him kept burning. The gap might have been five years, but his performances have been just as good as it was when he started off. It wasn’t easy for him, though.

With his comeback imminent, some senior players of the Pakistan team were rumoured to have warned the management that they wouldn’t play along with him. All that looks quite hysterical now and Pakistan might just win this tournament with Amir spearheading the bowling attack.

In his third ball itself, he took the wicket of Soumya Sarkar—someone whose record against Pakistan is beyond great. That early wicket set the tone for the rest of the bowlers as wickets kept on tumbling at the other end.

He finished the game with figures of 27 for 2 from 4 overs while looking hungry for more. And his appetite doesn’t look to be satiated so easily.