The Bangladesh cricket team were given a grand reception on Saturday for their outstanding performance in the World Cup that saw them move into the Super Eights fulfilling the expectation of fans back at home.

Sports adviser Tapan Chowdhury was among the dignitaries who attended the reception, hosted by the Bangladesh Cricket Board at the Winter Garden of Dhaka Sheraton hotel.

Mirza Behruze Ispahani, the chairman of the Ispahani Group, the official sponsor of the Bangladesh team in the World Cup, handed over a cheque for $30,000 to skipper Habibul Bashar in recognition of their performances in the Super Eight phase.

During the course, the BCB presented a memento to each member of the team including the chief selector Faruque Ahmed.

‘We have worked very hard for World Cup success and got the dividend eventually. I thank the BCB for recognising our efforts,’ skipper Habibul Bashar said in his speech.

‘The boys really deserved some credit. They were very keen do something good in the World Cup,’ said coach Dav Whatmore, who perhaps attended his last such function while in charge of Bangladesh.

The BCB president, M Abdul Aziz, in his speech said his organisation would love to have Whatmore as the Bangladesh coach until the World Cup 2011, but the Sri Lanka-born Australian dismissed that chance.

 

© The Bangladesh Journal