The nation’s hope rests on Sabbir Rahman to give them an occasion to exult as Bangladesh are on the brink of a famous Test victory. Barring low profile Zimbabwe and a depleted West Indies, Bangladesh never have won against a top flight opposition since their elevation to the elite cricket.

History now beckons them to break the deadlock and gave a fitting reply to the critics who was in the favour to drop them in Tier-2, a system that ICC is trying to induct in the longer version to make it more competitive. A Test victory against one of the toughest Test team in the world would also prove the fact they have come off the age like the ODI cricket.

They have a whole fifth day at their hands and need just 33 runs but what is against Bangladesh is that they have two wickets remaining. Two tail-enders were there but the onus is on Sabbir to deliver the victory since he is the only recognised batsman. The nation dares to dream because he drove Bangladesh innings with serenity, with mix of aggression and calmness under pressure when England bowlers were their best. Sabbir is now batting on 59, hitting a fifty on Test debut as Bangladesh are 33 runs away of the victory.

He played through the pain after getting struck on his helmet in the first innings by a bouncer of Ben Stokes and received another blow on the same place of helmet but refused to give us. That die-hard spirit gave the nation, aside his teammates in the dressing room, hope that he finally would make it for what the country has been craving for long. The matter that he is a debutant, is now forgotten. People still dare to dream.

“I am very happy with the way he batted in the second innings, with all that difficulty of getting hit on the head after that,” said head coach Chandika Hathurusingha.

“He was out for whole day. He concentrated on intense pressure on one of the most difficult wickets I have watched or played cricket on.”

Hathurusingha however was reluc-tant to give Sabbir any pressure. He has just advised not to be panicked.

“I don’t think panic is the word. Everyone wants to win. We are all hoping that someone stays with Sabbir tomorrow. It may be Taijul and Shafiul. They can bat. It is getting increasingly difficult to bat on that wicket. If the ball jumps like it did to Mushfiqur, you don’t have anything to do. What we can do is play the ball on merit and if it is behaving differ-ently, forget about it. Play the next ball that’s the message.”
The character he demonstrated aside his steely resolve was also a treat to watch. He kept eye on England fielders when they sledged; he hit them hard when he got that in his zone; he restrained him when it was imperative.

“He has played very nicely. The part-nership with Mushfiqur was very good. They were calm and took their scoring options. He has taken this Test match very deep,” England fast bowler Stuart Broad said about Sabbir.

“There will be a lot of pressure on him to take his scoring options. It would be up to the bowlers to bowl at the stumps all the time. He stood up very well today, but we should put him under a lot of pressure tomorrow. Two mistakes from Bangladesh would give us the game.”