The mention of 'Netherlands' and the memories of 1997 come pacing back to everyone from that generation. That victory in the second round of the ICC Trophy, skipper Akram Khan's unbeaten 68 and the consequent qualification to the semifinals are considered a seminal moment in this country's cricket.
Only a few have been privileged to have seen that game and for those that have, it still gives them sleepless nights. After the Dutch had made 171 in 49.5 overs, Bangladesh faced a revised target of 141 runs in 33 overs after they had slipped to 15 for four.
Akram then conjured up all the inspiration he could find and struck 68 off 92 balls under dull light at the Rubber Research Institute ground in Kuala Lumpur, an innings that made him an instant hero and turned that crucial game into one of the most memorable ones.
The heroics of Mahmudullah Riyad and Shafiul Islam on Friday night brought back some memories of that nail-biter but only a few have actually seen it.
Only one member of those two teams are currently playing cricket and though you wouldn't expect anyone from the Bangladesh side to do so, it is in fact Dutch batsman Bas Zuiderent, then a 20-year-old upcoming opener.
Fourteen years after that game, Zuiderent still remembers the implications and how charged up both sets of players were, exactly remembering that it was indeed a must-win game for both Bangladesh and Netherlands.
“We had a bit of interference from the rain, which made it very interesting. A lot of stuff went on. We were very keen to win that game but it didn't go our way,” said Zuiderent yesterday at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium after he completed preparation for his side's game against Bangladesh today.
“It was quite an emotionally-loaded game and there was a lot going on. Obviously Bangladesh were desperate to win that game and we were desperate to win as well.
“Unfortunately the weather interfered that day as well. Unfortunately we didn't win that day and Bangladesh went on to win the trophy,” added the man who had earlier become one of the youngest players in World Cup history in the 1996 tournament.
Khaled Mashud, the former national captain who was one of the architects of that successful ICC Trophy campaign, remembers vividly that he accompanied Akram in the end, though he didn't face a ball.
“Akram bhai played one of the best innings of all time in that game. I think it was a turning point in our cricket and I remember that I was there in the end.
“Saiful (Islam) too played a good hand, I think he made 20-odd. It was a game that if we hadn't won, we wouldn't have it to the semifinals,” said Mashud.
As if on cue from that result, both sides have gone into divergent paths, and if the ICC decides a few months from now, it would be hard for the Dutch to make it into the big leagues.
Zuiderent, one of the important voices of the Dutch cricketing fraternity, said it was just a shame that the ICC are mulling the 10-team World Cup.
“It's a shame, we'd love to play in the WC, all countries want that. Bangladesh were in a position one day where they were fighting for a position in the World Cup. It's very disappointing if the ICC doesn't give countries like Ireland, Holland, Scotland, Afghanistan more opportunities to give against bigger teams.
“You are going to get disappointing results in the World Cup because we just don't get the exposure to play world class teams all throughout the year. The last game we played against a full member nation was the one against Bangladesh and before that, two years ago maybe,” said Zuiderent, the Rotterdam resident.
