The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Bangladesh bursts into celebrations

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 20, 2005

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Bangladesh bursts into celebrations

Haroon Habib

DHAKA: Tens of thousands of jubilant crowds painted Dhaka with colours as Bangladesh burst into celebrations following an historic win over the World champion Australia in the Natwest triangular series in Wales on Saturday.

Beating drums and shouting "Bangladesh, Bangladesh" revellers poured into the streets as Aftab Ahmed scored the winning run. Euphoric crowds waved Bangladesh's national flag and carried portraits of Mohammad Ashraful, the hero who smashed 100 off just 101 balls to the cheers of both Bangladeshi and British crowds.

Hundreds of students, including girls, of Dhaka University came out of their dormitories and hugged each other to celebrate this unbelievable victory. They danced, sang and exchanged greetings. Hundreds of students, also took to the street in a spontaneous jubilation all over the country.

The euphoric crowd termed the victory a fitting rebuff to some of the Australian cricketers, including Shane Warne who demanded that Bangladesh should be stripped of its Test status.

Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia congratulated the players, coach and officials of the Bangladesh team. Opposition leader Sheikh Hasina also congratulated the team.

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