Behind the lens: Sorrow in click, pleasure in outcome

If times were normal, professional sports photographers would be roaming around the city capturing the best shots from the Dhaka Premier Cricket League, Bangladesh Premier League or other sporting action. Everything, however, has come to a standstill because of the coronavirus pandemic. For all concerned, and especially those in sport, the memory lane is the one most travelled during this unwanted break. And the photographers are also providing pictures of the good old days but they have their own stories behind the memorable pictures. The Daily Star Sport took the opportunity to share the joy, sorrow, and pleasure of their special clicks. Here, our own Firoz Ahmed talks about stories behind his best captures.

It was one of the hardest moments in my professional career. I was shell shocked when I read the news in the morning about Mohammad Ashraful's involvement in match-fixing during the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) in 2013. It took me some time to calm down because he was my favourite cricketer.

He was our first cricketing superstar and I loved his every movement. It was always a thrill for me to press the button to capture his best shots. His presence was always pleasing; I especially loved to frame his photograph with the infectious, innocent smile.

So, I couldn't believe myself…. was it true? But I calmed myself down because I thought, as a professional photographer, I had to take the best shot of him on this day no matter how painful it would be for me. The main challenge remained finding him. I first rushed to the cricket board's headquarters in Mirpur and then I was asking around to know his exact whereabouts.

The anxiety increased as the daylight began fading. How could I manage a good picture had I not got enough light?

Finally, I got news of his whereabout and rushed there only to face the toughest challenge in my career.

Ashraful came down to the ground floor at his Banashree residence with little daylight remaining and broke down in tears while talking to reporters. And I had to control myself to capture the best shot of the deep sorrow of a man, pictures of whose smiling face were my favourite.

Seven years have passed since the event took place but the photograph still draws my attention because it's my favourite picture as it depicts all the sorrow of a fallen star.