8 things you didn't know about the Bangladesh cricket team

The Tigers have entered the quarter finals of the Cricket World Cup for the first time in their cricketing history, and they did it in style, knocking England out of the tournament. 

Here are 8 things you may not have known about the Bangladesh cricket team:

 

1. Man of the Match against England, 29 year old Mahmuddullah Riyad has a 2 year old son

His wife and son couldn't make it to the Adelaide Oval where the match was being played. During the national anthem ceremony, he said he missed his mother when the second-last stanza was being played - it has the line "Oh mother mine..."

 

PHOTO: THE DAILY STAR

 

2. Batsman Tamim Iqbal was named as Wisden's Test Cricketer of the Year in 2011

A very prestigious accolade for any cricketer. He has also scored over 4,000 in ODIs for Bangladesh, the second Bangladesh player in history to do so.

 

PHOTO: CRICKET COUNTRY

 

3. Batsman Mushfiqur Rahim is 5 feet 3 inches tall

Despite his height, he packs a big punch in his batting, especially when playing the cut shot. Rahim made a crucial 89 in the win against England.

 

PHOTO: REUTERS

 

4. In early January 2015, fast bowler Rubel Hossain was arrested on charges of rape

He denied the charges which were filed by a former girlfriend, saying the woman was trying "to blackmail" him. He took 4 wickets in the match against England, including two in his last over.

 

PHOTO: ALCHETRON

 

5. Left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny's hobbies included keeping pigeons

He had several on the roof of his home, according to ESPN, Cricinfo but he had to let all of them go after he was selected to play for the national side.

 

PHOTO: AFP

 

6. ODI captain Mashrafe bin Murtaza, 31, has had several accidents related to his bowling

 

Over the years since beginning test cricket in 2001 as a teenager, he has had many accidents and injuries. Mashrafe has had a total of 7 operations on his knees, ankles and legs over the years.

 

PHOTO: REDIFF.COM

 

7. 27 year old Shakib ul Hasan, who also served as Test captain for some years, played a vital role in Bangladesh's first ever overseas Test win

This was at the second test in Grenada in 2009. Shakib made an unbeaten 96 and took eight wickets as Bangladesh chased 215 in the fourth innings to win their first Test match overseas.

 

PHOTO: REUTERS

 

8. 19 year old fast bowler Taskin Ahmed became a YouTube sensation even before being picked for the national ODI team in 2014

A video of his bowling in an U-19 match against England and dismissing several batsmen with his blistering bowling made the rounds of the Internet and garnered considerable interest in his bowling abilities. He has played seven ODIs so far taking a healthy 13 wickets, including two in the match against England.

 

PHOTO: AFP