Bangladesh Under-19 cricket team have already achieved the nation’s best ever result in the history of the U-19 World Cup and they are on the verge of yet another piece of history when they face the West Indies in the semi-final at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium today.
The hosts reached the last four of the 11th edition having displayed some clinical cricket but they will have to step up the gas against the Caribbean youngsters, who have gradually improved as the tournament wore on.
However, Mehedi Hasan Miraz’s Bangladesh might have the psychological advantage over the opposition, having swept aside the Caribbean youngsters 3-0 in a home series prior to the global event.
In their pursuit of a final berth, the junior Tigers will once again look to their spinners, led by left-arm spinner Shawon Gazi and captain Mehedi Hasan, who have scalped eight and seven wickets respectively.
On the other hand, the junior Tigers’ batting department will be spearheaded by Nazmul Hossain Shanto, who has been in impressive form right throughout the tournament. Coupled with his right-arm spin, Mehedi has also exhibited his qualities as a dependable middle-order batsman and in wicketkeeper-batsman Zakir Hasan and Joyraj Sheik, the junior Tigers have quite a few consistent performers in their ranks.
In contrast, the visitors will depend heavily on their seamers Alzarri Joseph and Chemar Holder in order to trouble the home side with sheer pace and bounce.
The Windies batting department has the ability to take the game away from the opposition, as was evident in their quarter-final win over a formidable Pakistan side.
The pitch at the home of cricket has been known to offer some assistance to the faster bowlers but in the larger scheme of things, the spinners are likely to rule the roost as opposed to the pacemen.
Another factor that might tilt the game in favour of the junior Tigers is the home crowd, who are expected to throng Mirpur today in their thousands.
