In the recent past, Bangladesh cricket team provided the country plenty of reasons to be cheerful. A series of wins against several top-ranked nations created a buzz which still exists among the cricket-mad fans.
Amid this hype, the junior Tigers will start their ICC U-19 World Cup campaign today against holders South Africa U-19 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium in the port city. Given that Bangladesh will be hosting the tournament for the second time after 2004, the supporters will no doubt be hoping for grand celebrations come the grand finale, scheduled for February 14.
Bearing in mind the fans’ hopes and expectations, it will only be normal for the junior Tigers to crumble under pressure.
However, it is understood that the team management has taken a few initiatives to avoid such a scenario. According to sources, the U-19 team has been asked to refrain from using social media as much as possible during the global showpiece age-level event. The junior Tigers have also been advised to communicate less with the outside world.
The entire country’s attention might be fixated on the U-19 side but captain Mehedi Hasan Miraz yesterday informed the media that they are keeping things simple and are barely paying any notice to the fans’ demands.
Right-arm all-rounder Mehedi added that they are fully focused on the tournament opener against the junior Proteas and expressed confidence of a win that would set things in motion.
Bangladesh’s best ever result in the tournament came 12 years ago when the hosts won the Plate final against Australia, finishing fifth in the overall list. Mehedi said the current lot wants to improve on that fifth-placed finish.
“We (Bangladesh) have never been that successful in U-19 World Cup. The best result we have achieved so far is a fifth-placed finish. So, we want to do something special and make people say our batch was a good one and that we have progressed in the game,” the 18-year old said.
“We have no pressure to be honest with you. Yes, there is a lot of expectations but we are not worried about that. Everyone is excited and looking forward to a good tournament,” he added.
The junior Tigers recently got the better of their South African counterparts, winning 11 times and losing just thrice in 14 youth one-dayers recently but Mehedi said past results will count for little when they face the defending champions today.
“I think we know their (South Africa) team quite well at the moment but the thing is cricket is a game of a particular day. There is no room for us to take things easy. There is no room to relax as it might cause accidents. We want to play as if it is our last match and forget all our outcomes against them in the past,” Mehedi explained.
Along with Joyraj Sheik, Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Saeed Sarkar, Mehedi also represented Bangladesh U-19 in the previous edition two years ago in the United Arab Emirates and the Khulna youngster said it will be an honour to captain the side one more time in the youth World Cup.
“I want to make the best use of the opportunity. It is exciting that I have been the captain in both the tournaments. I am not taking any pressure. Rather, my intention is to perform well.”
