Raqibul Hasan Sr.

Infobox Cricketer


nationality = Bangladeshi
country = Bangladesh
country abbrev = Ban
name = Raqibul Hasan
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right-hand bat
bowling style = -
balls = true
tests = -
test runs = -
test bat avg = -
test 100s/50s = -
test top score = -
test overs = -
test wickets = -
test bowl avg = -
test 5s = -
test 10s = -
test best bowling = -
test catches/stumpings = -/-
ODIs = 2
ODI runs = 17
ODI bat avg = 8.50
ODI 100s/50s = -/-
ODI top score = 12
ODI overs = 1
ODI wickets = -
ODI bowl avg = -
ODI 5s = -
ODI 10s = -
ODI best bowling = -
ODI catches/stumpings = 1/-
date = 13 February
year = 2006
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/56070.html

Raqibul Hasan (born January 15, 1953, Dhaka) is a former Bangladeshi cricketer who played in 2 ODIs in 1986. he is widely regarded as one of the best Bangladeshi batsman of his era. [ [http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/05/02/sports.htm] : Rafiqul Ameer."Looking Back: Bangladesh Cricket in the 80's". Retrieved on 2008-07-08.]

Early Years

An opening batsman, Raqibul made his first-class debut in 1968-69 at the age of 16, and was soon selected to represent Pakistan's U19 team against the English Schoolboys. He was twelfth man in a Test match against New Zealand at Dhaka in 1969-70. Barely sixteen at the time, he seemed sure to have a lengthy Test career ahead of him.

However on 26 February 1971 a match started at Dhaka in the Bangabandhu Stadium. It was a four day match against the Commonwealth side. The Pakistan team was playing and he was picked to play for them. At 18 years old he became the first and only Bengali to play for a full-strength Pakistan team. The match couldn't be finished as on the last day demonstrations erupted all over the city and the stadium was invaded. Within a month of his debut, events in his homeland of East Pakistan took a shocking turn, and he was forced to flee for his life.

It would be nine long months before Bangladesh won its independence, at the cost of millions of lives. In Raqibul's family there were six casualties. On top of that, he lost his best friend, Haleem Chaudhri, who was his opening partner for East Pakistan and his room-mate on tour. And he lost his cricketing godfather, Mushtaq, the man who spotted him as a boy and gave him his first chance at club level.

In Independent Bangladesh

After returning to Bangladesh, Raqibul became a key figure in building the Bangladesh cricket. He led the side in their return to international arena. In December 1976, the visiting MCC started their tour with a 2 day match at Rajshahi against North Zone, he was named captain and top scored with 73 in the 2nd innings. He bettered that, scoring 74 for South Zone at Jessore. But his proudest moment of the season came at Dhaka as he was part of the Bangladesh team (led by Shamim Kabir) that played in the 3 day-unofficial Test Match against MCC in January, 1977. This historical match marked the resumption of international cricket at Dhaka. [ Hasan Babli. "Antorjartik Crickete Bangladesh". Khelar Bhuban Prakashani, Novermeber, 1994. ]

In full ODIs

Raqibul played in two ODI's for Bangladesh. He scored 5 against Pakistan, [ [http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65672.html Cricinfo Scorecard] : Bangladesh v Pakistan (1986-03-31). (Retrieved on 2007-12-25). ] and 12 against Sri Lanka [ [http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65673.html Cricinfo Scorecard] :Bangladesh v Sri-Lanka. (1986-04-02) (Retrieved on 2007-12-25) ] in the second Asia Cup in 1986.

In ICC Trophy

Raquibul Hasan played in 3 ICC Trophy tournaments. In 1979, he socred 52 runs in 4 matches with a highest of 34 against Canada. He did better in 1982, scoring 167 runs at an average of 27.83. His highest, 42 came against West Africa. finally, in 1986, he scored 121 runs at an average of 24.19. His unbeaten 47 helped Bangladesh beat Argentina. He retired from international cricket after the 86 ICC Trophy. [ [http://www.banglacricket.com/History/icc.php] Banglacricket: Bangladesh in ICC Trophy (retrieved on 2008-07-09)]

Raquibul as Captain

He had two spells as captain of Bangladesh; first during 1977-79 and 2nd during the 1983-84 season. He had a difficult time, duing the Sri Lankaseries in January 78. The Lankan team was far superior in strength and they won all the 3 day unoffical Test Matches. Raquibul Hasan failed to convert quite a few starts, into any score of substance. He (and his team) did lot better, against the Indians (Decan Blues) (led by former Indian captain) Ajit Wadekar in Feb, 1978. His defiant 64 helped the lcoal side reach 320/9, despite the efforts of Indian leg spinner M. V. Narasimha Rao. (The leggie took 6/120). This was the first time Bangladesh crossed the 300 mark in an international match. However, Raquibul failed with the bat the following season, against a relatively weak MCC squad. It was apparent that the captaincy was becoming a burden for him. So, the selectors chose WK batsman Shafiq-ul-Haq Hira as captain for the 1st ICC Trophy in England, in the summer of 1979.

Raquibul's 2nd spell as captain came during the busy 1983-84 season. He led Bangladesh to victory in the 1st South-East Asian Cricket Cup in Dhaka in January. In 1985, Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu, was named as the new captain. [ Hasan Babli. "Antorjartik Crickete Bangladesh". Khelar Bhuban Prakashani, Novermeber, 1994. ]

Domestic cricket

He played his League cricket in Dhaka for Victoria Sporting Club and Mohammedan Sporting Club.

References

External links

* http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2006/05/02/sports.htm
* http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/statsguru/content/player/56070.html
* http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/statsguru/content/story/88526.html
* http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/statsguru/content/story/286065.html
* [http://www.banglacricket.com/History/roqibul1.php] : A Legendary Cricketer
* [http://www.banglacricket.com/History/roqibul2.php] : Rebuilding Broken Dreams