Nostalgic piece : The day Gordon Greenidge cried

[Miraz]

	Akram Khan is regarded by many as the best Bangladesh batsman ever © Getty Images Enlarge
Related Links Features : The Khans of Chittagong Players/Officials: Akram Khan Matches: Bangladesh v Netherlands at Chittagong | Bangladesh v Netherlands at Kuala Lumpur | Bangladesh v Netherlands at Nairobi (Prem) Series/Tournaments: ICC Cricket World Cup Teams: Bangladesh | Netherlands

"Gordon Greenidge cried the most. Everybody was crying, he couldn't hold himself back."
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Bangladesh and Netherlands might have played each other only once in international cricket, that too in Glasgow, but they share a bittersweet history; a history of tears of anguish and tears of joy for Bangladesh. Back in 1994, and then in 1997, the two countries were involved in two matches, which though not recognised as internationals, were key to the future of cricket in Bangladesh. Those were in the days of the ICC Trophy, where the Associates take part in tense contests - a tension followers of Test-playing nations can never truly appreciate, and that includes me - just to make it to the World Cup. Just to let the world know they exist.
Akram Khan, arguably the greatest Bangladesh batsman ever, was involved in both those seminal matches against Netherlands. He is a national selector now, and often comes to watch the Bangladesh nets. On his way to ground on Sunday, on the eve of a crucial match against Netherlands, all he could think of was those two emotion-filled matches, emotion that perhaps surpasses what we have seen in Bangladesh this World Cup.



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