Former Bangladesh national cricket team skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, a diehard fan of Argentina, was over the moon after meeting with World Cup winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez today.

Martinez was instrumental in helping Argentina end the waiting of World Cup victory after 36 years as the Lionel Messie-led side beat mighty France 4-2 on tiebreaker after a thrilling 3-3 draw.

Mashrafe’s wait was also over when Messi lifted the golden trophy.

The former captain of the national team dreamed of seeing his favorite team win the World Cup. Messi, Di Maria, Emiliano Martinez fulfilled that dream in Qatar. Martinez, one of the heroes who fulfilled the dreams of Mashrafe and millions of football lovers, is now in Bangladesh.

He arrived in Bangladesh early Monday morning on a short visit for only 11 hours. He actually would visit Kolkata but knowing Bangladeshi people’s enthusiasm for Argentine team, he himself decided to visit Bangladesh before going to Kolkata.

The Argentine World Cup winning footballer attended a ceremony in the morning where Mashrafe, also a lawmaker from the ruling party Awami League, was the invited guest. Mashrafe appeared on the occasion with daughter Humaira and son Sahel.

They saw Martinez up close and took a picture. They got an autograph of Maritnez on the white-blue jersey. Mashrafe was impressed to have Martinez close for a while. He could not imagine that the La Albiceleste goalkeeper would show such sincerity.

After meeting with Martinez, Mashrafe wrote his reaction on Facebook, “I started to like Emi since the Copa America, where he saved two goals in the tiebreaker to give the team victory. After how many years Argentina won a big title! Lionel Messi got his first taste of the big trophy for the country. Naturally, I was looking at the World Cup with a bird’s eye view. But after losing to Saudi Arabia, it seemed that another World Cup might end in disappointment. But to be able to make an incredible comeback and later win the World Cup was a long-cherished dream come true.”

“We met Emi, one of the heroes of that victory, in Dhaka. We’ve seen him for a short time, but it’s was lifetime achievement, a great feeling. The World Cup winning team in front of the goalkeeper’s eyes! He doesn’t know how many years of waiting for me and millions of other people like me ended, the day when Argentina won the World Cup.

“Today he pulled up his trousers in the middle of the match, got a tattoo on the leg where he blocked Kolo Muani’s shot 18 seconds before the final whistle in the World Cup final. For a second, it seemed that the World Cup was actually won there.”

Mashrafe’s son and daughter were equally enthusiastic to see Emi in front of their eyes.

“Today I feel better for my children. When I said, ‘Emi is coming, do you want to meet?’ they were jumping. For the last two days they could not sleep properly because they were going to see Emi. After meeting Emi today, I said, ‘The kids want your autograph.’ She showed so much sincerity, in a word, amazing. He even took pictures with them. Now they are very happy, and I am also very happy because of their happiness,” Mashrafe expressed.

At the end, Mashrafe thanked Martinez to visit Bangladesh, even though it was very short and at the same time, wished that Bangladesh national football team will play World Cup football one day to give them another occasion to exalt.

“Emi, welcome to this land of Bengal. You have countless fans here, for ages. I hope you also feel good by stepping on this ground.

“Besides, I also think that Bangladesh will qualify for World Cup football one day and we will march with our flag. To many it may seem unrealistic now. But I believe, the task is difficult, very difficult but not impossible. I am waiting for that day to fulfill my dream,” he added. -BSS