The Definition of Cricket Sportsmanship

I loved Mohammad Islam’s story on Nasir Hossain’s debut century for Cricinfo, including this great little detail:

During the partnership, Nasir moved closer to a century, and it was two unlikely sources that pushed him to go for the three-figure mark.

“First Younis [Khan] bhai, and then Umar Akmal told me to go for the hundred when I was around 75. That’s when I decided to go for the century because till then I was trying to bat out the 50 overs,” Nasir said.

Younis Khan and Umar Akmal, on the opposing team, egging on the guy standing in their way of (an admittedly assured) victory. Great moment. Also, this is what it’s like to be 20 years old:

Nasir was in a lively mood while describing the moment he got to the century at the post-match press conference. “I thought I was on 98 when I had actually reached the century. [Mahmudullah] Riyad bhai told me that I had reached the century. So I asked him, ‘How should I raise the bat?’ He told me to just raise it.”

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