Historical and Classic Events of Bangladesh: Part 1| Victory vs Pakistan, 1999| The World of Sports |

Hello, people who love Sports. How are you? Inspired by @damithudaya, I am starting to write about classic and historical matches of Bangladesh. I am starting with the first-ever victory against a Test-playing nation in the World Cup 1999 against Pakistan.

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On 31st May 1999, in Northampton, a newly promoted Bangladesh was about to play against the former World Champion, Pakistan. 5 players of that team were in the World Cup winning squad. Pakistan was full of experienced veteran cricketers like Saeed Anwar, Inzamam-ul Haq, Wasim Akram, Saqlain Mushtaq, and Waqar Younis. Young Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Akhtar were part of the XI.

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On the other hand, Bangladesh was with the hope that it would get the ODI status two years ago and was playing its first-ever World Cup. Bangladesh played 4 matches and won against Scotland in that edition.

Pakistan captain Wasim Akram won the toss and chose to bowl first. Two Bangladeshi openers, Shahriar and Mehrab Hossain, came to open the innings. They were building up the innings nicely but slowly. At the 16th over, Saqlain Mushtaq broke the opening partnership of Bangladesh, which was at 69. Mehrab was stumping out after scoring 9. In his next over, Saqlain got the wicket of a well-set Shahriar who was at 39.

With the help of Akram Khan (42), Khaled Mahmud Suzon (27), Aminul Islam (15), and wicketkeeper Khaled Masud (15), Bangladesh was able to score 223 for 9 wickets after 50 Over. Saqlain Mushtaq got a fifer and Waqar Younis got two.

While depending on the low score against mighty Pakistan, which had won all the previous 4 matches in that event, Bangladesh got the breakthrough in the very first over as Khaled Mahmud departed Shahid Afridi. In the following over, Ijaj Ahmed was also dismissed by Shafiuddin. Pakistan lost the wickets of Saeed Anwar and Inzamam-ul Haq before the 10th over and lost Saleem Malik when the score was less than 50. Khaled Mahmud took 3 of these 5 crucial wickets.

Bangladesh gained momentum after that and began to believe in victory. But Azhar Mahmud and Wasim Akram prevented it and built an innings of 55. After the wicket of Azhar at 97, Wasim departed at 102. Later, the batsman couldn’t show any sign of victory, and Pakistan was all out at 161.

The history was made. Bangladesh defeated a Test-playing nation in the World Cup. And that against mighty Pakistan. Pakistan captain Wasim Akram said after the match that they were happy they lost against their brothers. Showed a perfect gesture to the newly promoted Bangladesh.

Aminul Islam Bulbul was the captain of the Bangladesh team. Khaled Mahmud Sujon announced the Player of the Match for his heroic all-rounder performance.

Source	ESPN Crickinfo