Nearly thirty-seven thousand spectators missed several lakh heartbeats as some bulbs of the already famous floodlight system at the Bangabandhu National Stadium suddenly went off at 6.55 pm.
As voltage tripped at the power sub-station adjacent to the stadium, the floodlights, capable of generating 2000 lux, all at once looked very dim, leaving the organisers in cold sweat.
With the proceedings coming to an abrupt halt, three ministers literally started running towards the power-substation near the Gate No 16. Obaidul Quader, State Minister for Youth and Sports, Saber Hossain, State Minister for Shipping, and Rafiqul Islam, State Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources, rushed to the centre where they got hold of Siemens technician, who was in a hectic quandary to redeem the situation. Much to the relief of millions, he could get things in order within only six minutes. The statesman- trio then repeatedly requested the embarrassed technician to be very careful to avert further debacle. Siemens earned tons of tribute from the visitors and experts for installing at Bangabandhu what they said was the world's best floodlight facilities.
But, the six-minute break proved vital for the Sri Lankans, who were reeling at 35 for 3 in the 9th over. Captain Ranatunga and Kaluwitharana could get enough time to draw up a plan to guide the team into safety. The two then featured in a match-winning partnership of 127 runs.
The government however has formed a 3-member committee to look into the incident, which will submit its report within three days.
Sorry Sanath
The Dhaka soil simply doesn't suit Sanath Jayasuriya. The Sri Lankan ball-bashing opener once again failed to live up to his reputation at the Dhaka Stadium when he got himself out for a duck. It was Jayasuriya's third appearance at the big bowl. Earlier, he played for local giants Mohammedan Sporting Club in three matches. Much to the frustration of his fans here, he was out for 4, 8 and 17. Jayasuriya however gets another chance to break the Dhaka jinx when his team meets South Africa in the first semifinal on October 30. So, good luck next time.
Captain Cool
The day belonged to the Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga. Coming in at a crucial stage of the game, with his team reeling at 5 for 3, the cool captain of the islanders smashed an unbeaten 90 to stymie the spirited men of Stephen Fleming. Ranatunga, who lost 10 kgs in six months, is no longer a burly man. The 34-year-old ran like a spring chicken while stealing a cheeky single and showed no sign of fatigue under the scorching heat of 40 degrees Celsius.
Good Luck de Silva
Sri Lankan vice-captain Aravinda de Silva is all set to call his bachelor's days over. The lucky bride-to-be is a model girl, Sarita Rajendran. De Silva made the engagement announcement a few days back. But she won't be happy. He got a duck at Dhaka.
Another four in town
The second batch of the Australian team arrived in Dhaka yesterday. Four more Australians - fast bowler Brendon Julian, Damien Martin, Andrew Simonds and wicketkeeper Adam Gillchrist, flew in from down under to join Michael Bevan and Brad Young. One-day specialist Bevan and spinner Young arrived in the city the day before. The rest of the Australian team, which was touring Pakistan, will reach the capital today. But the Australian Test captain Mark Taylor will have to grace the seat at the gallery this time because of his country's 'one team-two captain policy'. Steve Waugh, his deputy in the Test team, will lead the Australians against India on October 28.
In the same flight
Pakistan, who managed to clinch a draw in the third and final Test against Australia, will board the same flight along with the Australians. The Pakistanis will face the West Indies, who are already in the town, on October 29.
Houseful
Ticket touts took a time-out yesterday. Spectators were packed like sardines at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, watching the opening match of world champions Sri Lanka against the spirited New Zealanders. In the previous matches hundreds of black marketers were seen busy in doing brisk business, selling gallery tickets of Taka 120 and Taka 150 for Taka 200 plus. Only a few seats in the International Gallery were seen vacant at the 37000-capacity stadium.
Sri Lankan Wave
The islanders made the eastern International Gallery their base. They waved flags to the full and sang songs to their hearts content. The music was very much Bangladeshi but the language was obviously not. The thrill in their ranks was sky-high after New Zealand returned home cheaply. But it slumped to sub-zero after Sanath, Attapatu and De Silva were dismissed with five on the card. Well, Arjuna and Kaluwitharana gave enough reasons for the crest to rise again.
Tit for Tat
Some 'stupid' spectators in the eastern gallery threw fireballs on to the ground. This annoyed the more sensible of the fans, of which there was vast majority. To teach the pranksters a lesson with the same exercise, thousands of fans in good humour pelted empty plastic bottles, banana peel and whatnot towards them. The fireballs stopped for good.
Caring Saber
Saber Hossain, the young president of Bangladesh Cricket Board, has finally visited the media box to inquire about the facilities provided to journalists. The professionals working at the media box and inside the stadium had been complaining about some problems and treatment meted out by some Board officials the past few days. Clad in white pajama and punjabi the handsome Board president talked to the journalists, inquired about the prevailing problems and assured them of looking into them immediately.