By Raihan Mahmood
Shakib al Hasan
Bangladesh all-rounder Sakib al Hasan has become the surprise winner of the Wisden Cricketer agazine’s Test Player of the Year for 2009, topping the list of many big names of world cricket.
The Wisden Cricketer is the world’s biggest selling cricket magazine in the world, launched in 2003 as a result of the merger between Wisden Cricket Monthly and the Cricketer.
The magazine launched the award in 2008 and Shakib is the second winner of the award. Brett Lee of Australia was the first for 2007-08.‘I guess I owe my performance to keeping things simple. I don’t lose sleep over disappointments and rather look forward to seizing the next opportunity,’said Sakib.
‘I have been a performer and I work hard on my game to become the best cricketer I can be. Getting recognised by The Wisden Cricketer is the pinnacle of individual recognition as far as I am concerned,’ added Sakib.
John Stern, editor of the magazine, added: Sakib al Hasan is an outstanding young talent and a very deserving recipient of the Wisden Cricketer’s Test Player of the Year award.’
‘He has performed consistently against some top teams with flair, aggression and true talent. That he has performed so well in an international side that is still finding its feet is all the more remarkable, and his talent and ability could be crucial in developing the game in Bangladesh,’ said Stern in a statement.
Accolades continued to flow in for Sakib al Hasan for being crowned the Wisden Cricketer World Test Player of the Year. The young all-rounder toppled all the big names of world cricket to be named the top Test player by the widely circulated cricket magazine of the world. Former national skippers Roquibul Hassan, Gazi Ashraf Hossain, Khaled Mahmood and Habibul Bashar explain the qualities of the Sakib al Hasan.
Roquibul Hasan
He is the find of the decade. I believed that Sakib would reach the top one day and it happened. The award is justified and when he missed out on the ICC awards it hurt me very much, he deserved an award and he finally got it. He enjoyed a magnificent year taking Bangladesh to new heights. Sakib is cool, organised and consistent. The standout performances of Sakib al Hasan have put him on the top. What attracts me most is the professional attitude of Sakib al Hasan.
Gazi Ashraf Hossain
Dedication is key to Sakib al Hasan’s success. He never gives up on the field and his fighting qualities make him special among the others. He always tries to put in his best in any match. In all three departments – batting, bowling and fielding – Sakib tries to excel. He wants to get involved with the game at his best. A hard worker, Sakib tries his to serve his team to the best of his abilities.
Khaled Mahmood
Sakib is highly confident and he keeps faith in his abilities all the time. He stays focused on his job but what attracts me is his intelligence. He applies himself to the game using his intelligence, he knows how and where to use the weapon. He is the perfect all-rounder. I don’t rate him as half batsman or half bowler. He is a complete cricketer ready to bowl and bat anytime and at any order. He is young now and I have every belief that he will excel as the top cricketer when he grows older.
Habibul Bashar
It is a big achievement for Bangladesh. His level of confidence attracted me from the very beginning when I saw him first. He plays the game with a high motivation always thinking to do something special. He tries to implement what he thinks and always remains focused on the game. I rated him high from the beginning and it is very satisfying to see that Sakib has got his place at the top of world cricket. My clear statement is that Sakib is poised to enter the great cricketers’ list; there are many good players but not greats.
Team MP W D L GF GA Pts
Brazil *
18 9 7 2 33 11 34
Chile *
18 10 3 5 32 22 33
Paraguay *
18 10 3 5 24 16 33
Argentina *
18 8 4 6 23 20 28
Uruguay **
18 6 6 6 28 20 24
Ecuador
18 6 5 7 22 26 23
Colombia
18 6 5 7 14 18 23
Venezuela
18 6 4 8 23 29 22
Bolivia
18 4 3 11 22 36 15
Peru
18 3 4 11 11 34 13
* Qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™
** Uruguay and Costa Rica will compete in a two-legged play-off, with the winner advancing to South Africa 2010.
Argentina at last there
Diego Maradona’s Argentina booked their place at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ finals as substitute Mario Bolatti hit a later winner to end Uruguay’s hopes of snatching automatic qualification. Huracan midfielder Bolatti, winning just his third cap, fired home with six minutes remaining after the home defense failed to deal with Juan Sebastian Veron’s drilled effort from a free-kick.
The hosts ended the night with ten men after Martin Caceres picked up a second yellow card in the build up to Argentina’s winner. Maradona has come in for fierce criticism for his disjointed handling of Argentina’s qualification campaign, which has seen him field over 70 players, but victory in Montevideo tonight should silence his critics, until next summer at least.
Uruguay, meanwhile, now needs to prevail in a play-off against Honduras or Costa Rica if they are to join Argentina in the finals.
Ghana wins U-20 World Cup
Ghana held on with 10 men to beat Brazil in a penalty shootout to become the first African team to win the FIFA Under-20 World Cup and end a decade of South American dominance.
The final finished 0-0 after extra time at Cairo International Stadium, and Ghana’s Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu scored the winning penalty to make it 4-3 after Brazil’s Maicon missed a chance to win it at 3-2.
Agyemang-Badu’s confident shot uncorked wild scenes of jubilation by Ghana’s players and staff, and their fans among the 68 000-strong crowds. Agyemang-Badu peeled off his shirt and thumped his chest as Brazil’s dejected players fell to the ground in disbelief.
After the new champions draped in the country’s flag received the trophy, they returned to the field to continue jumping up and down in joy.
Another shootout decided third place, when Hungary beat Costa Rica 2-0 after their match finished 1-1.
Ghana defender Daniel Addo was sent off in the 37th minute for a late tackle on Alex Teixeira as he ran through midfield.
Despite the man advantage for nearly an hour, Brazil wasted chances and struggled to break down the tenacious defense of Ghana’s Black Satellites.
In the shoot-out, Alan Kardec confidently scored Brazil’s first kick, while Ghana captain Andre Ayew did the same.
After Brazil goalkeeper Rafael saved poor penalties from defenders Jonathan Mensah and Bright Addae, Maicon stepped up to the spot with a chance to give Brazil its fifth tournament win but he blasted the ball over as Ghana started wild celebrations.