The West Indies had a taste of their own medicine!

Is the cricket fever that has stemmed from the ongoing Cricket World Cup 2011 is largely over in Bangladesh because the Bangladesh team has crashed out of the tournament? The answer is a broad "yes", but it should also be kept in mind that the cricket-crazy fans have not disappeared from the scene following the exit of the home side even though most of them have fallen to a deep sense of frustration. In fact, for many, the tournament has become meaningless because of the absence of their favourtite "Tigers" at the quarter-final level and many seek to put the blame on the West Indies for Bangladesh's exit from the exciting tournament of the cricket playing nations. They feel it is because of the West Indies that Bangladesh was robbed of the chance of getting into the quarter-final round. Probably, they have a point, since the Caribbeans were expected to win against England and their victory would have taken Bangladesh automatically into the quarter-finals regardless of the Bangladesh-South Africa outcome that went against the home team. Bangladesh were out of the of the tournament following their defeat by the Proteas and that brought the end of home team's run in the contest, dealing a severe blow to the hopes and aspirations of the fans here. For many, the cricket extravaganza is practically over and most of them also ruefully want to return the tickets that they procured with a high price and considerable efforts. The poor attendance in the Mirpur cricket ground during the Pakistan-West Indies encounter is a pointer to this lack of interest by the Bangladesh crowd to watch the matches in the ground and there can be no denying that this is the reflection of the home team's unfortunate ouster from the competition. The same picture may emerge in the other quarter-final match here, although many would like to go to the Mirpur stadium. But the desperation and unbridled interest to enjoy the encounters in the ground have clearly disappeared as Bangladesh is no longer there in the tournament. The West Indies have become a team of disliking in Bangladesh not because that they dealt a humiliating defeat to the home team, but for the reason that they lost to England. There are even some people who on same perceived grounds tend to believe that the defeat of the West Indies by England was a contrived one. The Caribbeans, according to them, could have possibly won the contest, judging by its progressive proceedings, -- run-outs and other kinds of capitulation, but they did not seem keen for the victory. However, the reasons for such a strategy are better known to them, but there is no dearth of various speculations. In any case, this team was popular in Bangladesh for many years, even from the early Pakistan days, when the Caribbeans were seen with great admiration and respect for their cricket prowess. But what we have seen of late about the side is not only they are a shadow of their former self, but appears to have been caught with spirit that is not compatible with sports. Why should they give an impression that they lost to England rather willingly so as to deprive Bangladesh from playing at higher round? I was watching the West Indies-England match at a private gathering hosted for celebrated journalist-columnist Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury by his close friend M. Mokammel Huq. All eyes were fixed on the television screen and all were praying for a West Indian victory, obviously because that would help Bangladesh. Among others, finance minister AMA Muhith and former well-known diplomat-turned-columnist Faruq Chowdhury, who promised a great celebration if the West Indies won, were present But it did not happen although it looked very much possible. The callous approach of the Carribeans let us down, creating utter dismay in Bangladesh. When the West Indies finally met Pakistan in the first quarter-finals in Dhaka, few supported them. Besides, they were bundled out for a paltry 112 and then were subjected to a ten-wicket defeat. The West Indies were too happy with their big victory against Bangladesh and now they had a taste of their own medicine in the humiliating defeat they suffered. zaglulbss@yahoo.com