Sher-e-Bangla hosts 100th ODI match

DHAKA: It was a historic milestone for the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium as it hosted its 100th One-day International (ODI) as Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka locked horns in the ongoing tri-nation series at Dhaka on Wednesday.

However, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chose not to celebrate the momentous occasion even though the ground became only the sixth venue in the world to host hundred ODIs, 11 years after it made its debut with a Bangladesh-Zimbabwe match in 2006.

Sharjah, Sydney Cricket Ground, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Harare Sports Club and R. Premadasa Stadium are the other venues to achieve the feat. The tri-nation series is yet to pick any momentum as far as drawing crowds is concerned as the stands remained mostly vacant with only a few fans turning up for the games.

However, for a venue that has been a witness to so many historic moments, it was certainly a special occasion. Originally planned to host football games, it was in 2000 that it was decided to transform it into a cricket stadium.

Zimbabwe, who played the opening game at the venue, went onto play the historic 100th ODI on Wednesday. However, BCB perhaps failed to gauge the magnitude of the occasion wherein they could have instead scheduled the game against the hosts, making it not just a perfect repeat to commemorate the event but also fittingly have the hosts be a part of the occasion. BCB president Nazmul Hasan was caught offguard when his attention was drawn towards the same. At least three Zimbabwean players from the current squad - Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor and Christopher Mpofu - were a part of the first game, which Bangladesh won by eight wickets.

Over the past 11 years, the ground has witnessed many historic occasions including Bangladesh’s 4-0 win over New Zealand, the opening match of the 2011 World Cup apart from being host to three Asia Cup finals. Legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar achieved the unprecedented feat of scoring his 100th international century at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium while he played his final ODI against Pakistan too, here.