Big man of Bangla cricket still chipping in

He might have traded his (mostly ill-fitting) cricketing uniforms for a snazzy suit now,but Akram Khan is still recogonisable thanks...

He might have traded his (mostly ill-fitting) cricketing uniforms for a snazzy suit now,but Akram Khan is still recogonisable thanks to the familiar bulk that he brought to the batting crease during his 15-year-long career.

Despite having commanded one of the most colossal though not intimidating presences in front of the stumps during the 90s the 41-year-old former Bangladesh captains performances ended up being synonymous with his countrys early fortunes. Take any of Bangladeshs memorable achievements during his era,and his name almost always stands out as a major contributor.

It was under his captaincy that they famously won the ICC Trophy in 1997 where he top-scored in the semi-final against Holland to qualify for the World Cup. He was at the helm when they won their first ever ODI against Kenya in 1998 – as well. And it was Akrams 42 which was instrumental in Bangladeshs historic win against Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup at Northampton.

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He still gets emotional when he talks of the ICC Trophy win. We didnt know what was going to be in store for us when we got back. The bus took us from the airport to the parliament where one lakh people awaited us. This was the biggest gathering of people after the Liberation in 1971, says Akram.

The celebrations following the win against Pakistan in 1999 may not have been as dramatic as two years earlier,but Akram insists that the sentiments were almost the same. Ask him about the match-fixing allegations that marred his teams biggest moment in international cricket at that point,and he reveals that both side were aware of the consequences even before the final Pakistani wicket fell.

There was a lot of pressure on Pakistan not to lose that game. Wasim (Akram),who is a great friend,told me a number of times that everybody will raise fingers of suspicion against his team. We had a bowler called Rahul (Niamur Rashid) who kept appealing after every delivery and Wasim told me please ask him to stop that or people will start talking, he says.

Born to parents from Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh,Akram says that he was always taken to sport from a young age more so because of elder brother Iqbal,father of Bangladesh cricketers Nafees and Tamim.

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At that stage everyone played football during the winters and cricket during the summers. Like in India after 1983,it was only after 1997 that cricket became the No.1 sport here, he says.

While he retired in 2003,after eight Tests and 44 ODIs,the burly Akram has continued to contribute to Bangladesh cricket. After first donning the role of a selector,he launched himself into his latest venture a bus-service called SilkLine that he started with former football captain Ashish Badro which carries visiting and local cricketing guests between Dhaka and his hometown Chittagong.

As Shakib & Co go through their strenuous fielding routines,Akram insists that he would have never made it to the present team with his physique. I dont think I would have selected myself. Fitness is way too important these days, he says with a smile.