Heart-break for hosts as Bangla Tigers fall short of two runs to lose Asia Cup to Pakistan

Dhaka grieved as hosts slipped at the crunch, writes The Times Of India, adding that Pakistan held their nerves to clinch the Asia Cup on Thursday. “There were tears in everyone’s eyes, the silence was deathly, and it seemed that the world has come crashing down for a nation.  Bangladesh could not complete the miracle lap and fell two runs short as Pakistan became the Asian champions. But for the neutrals, it was all about the heroic effort of a bunch of Bangladeshi boys who started as no-hopers in the tournament,” writes the paper.

“It boiled down to the last over of the match as the Tigers needed nine with Mahamadullah and Abdul Razzak at the crease. Pakistan had no option but to go to Aizaz Cheema, who was the supposed weak-link of the attack. But neither Mahamadullah nor Razzak could connect that one shot which would have won Bangladesh the Asia Cup. Balls went by, the drama increased and Razzak got out on the fifth ball as Bangladesh needed four off the last ball. Shahadat Hossain, who will want to forget this game after conceding 19 runs in the last over of the Pakistan innings, had to get that boundary. But again, he couldn’t connect Cheema’s yorker and Misbah-ul-Haq and his boys were celebrating,” adds TOI.

Meanwhile Hindustan Times in its report writes that one could hear a pin drop at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium when Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim was caught in the deep by Nasir Jamshed. “One was rendered inaudible when Mahmudullah and Mashrafe Mortaza hit three fours in an over to rekindle the hosts' hopes of winning their first Asia Cup. In the end, the 26-year-long wait got prolonged after Pakistan bowled out of their skin to register a two-run victory,” it adds.

“Since playing their first ODI on March 31, 1986, against Pakistan in the Asia Cup, this was Bangladesh's first chance for a title in top-level cricket, but their players fell just short. That it was a thriller, made the climax even more heartbreaking. Beating the World Cup finalists and running another former winner close to complete a superb show, which spread over three consecutive matches, Bangladesh emerged the tragic heroes of the tournament. Mushfiqur Rahim cried like a baby as Shakib Al Hasan tried to console him. Even the groundsmen were distraught,” writes HT.

Indian Express, meanwhile writes that  Bangladesh’s dream of being crowned Asia Cup champions stayed alive right until the last ball of a pulsating encounter against Pakistan. “Shahadat Hossain, their No.11 batsman, had arrived at the centre to face the final delivery from Pakistan medium-pacer Aizaz Cheema. Abdur Razzak had just been bowled off the penultimate ball, when four was needed off two. Now with Hossain on strike, Bangladesh needed a boundary to win. Cheema found a devastating yorker. The ball rolled to the leg-side for a single. The dream was shattered and grief filled the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium,” writes the paper.

“Vice-captain Mahmudullah fell to his knees, Hossain shed tears. Cheema, with three wickets in all, celebrated within a Pakistan team huddle. A weeping captain Mashfiqur Rahim collapsed into the arms of Shakib Al-Hasan, the Man of the Tournament, the only trophy of note a Bangladesh player won. Hossain, on the night that seemed destined to end with the hosts winning their first major title after they had restricted Pakistan to 236 for nine, missed out on being remembered for ages in this part of the world,” adds Indian Express.