Bangladesh wonder-boy Mustafizur Rahman was the best example the International Cricket Council could possibly have showcased during the launching programme of the Under-19 World Cup 2016 at Le Meridien yesterday afternoon.
Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara was flanked by the two Bangladeshi seamers Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur – both having played in the U-19 WC before – while Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan and ICC general manager of cricket Geoff Allardice were also present when the fixtures and venues of the tournament were announced. The 11th edition of the tournament will begin on January 27 and end on February 14.
Mustafizur, who was recently named in the ICC ODI Team of 2015 after a record-breaking entry to international cricket, played in the last Under-19 World Cup in the UAE last year where he had taken eight wickets. “Some of the players with whom I played are still there. The captain Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Joy Raj Sheikh, Emon…these are good players and they will do good I am sure,” said Mustafizur, who also thanked the Almighty for enabling him to achieve so much in so little time.
Taskin said having played the age-level World Cup in 2012 in Australia helped him a great deal when he made it to the national side.
Meanwhile, Sangakkara joked that he wasn’t “good enough” to play in the Under-19 World Cup all those years ago, but understood throughout his career the importance of the tournament for the progress of young players in international cricket.
“I watched a lot of players around the world who played in the Under-19 World Cup. It is great to see talent being recognised at a very young age and then get the exposure at an international stage to showcase their skills. It introduces them to professionalism, structure and the expectations of what they should be doing to step up to the international level,” he said.
It will be the second time Bangladesh will be hosting the global event and eight venues in Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet and Cox’s Bazar will be used for the tournament that will kick off with the defending champions South Africa facing hosts Bangladesh in the port city.
The opening match will be one of the 20 matches that will be televised live. 16 teams are divided across four groups with the hosts pitted alongside holders South Africa and qualifiers Scotland and Namibia.
“Bangladesh has a proud history of hosting ICC events,” the BCB chief Nazmul said before adding, “Given the passion and enthusiasm with which we organise and follow cricket, I am confident this tournament will also be successful.”
Allardice echoed the same sentiment and labelled Bangladesh as the “perfect country to host such an event, especially with the addition of the two stadiums in Cox’s Bazar for this tournament.”
