A confident Bangladesh U-19 cricket team will be eager to create history when they take on their Indian counterparts in the grand finale of the U-19 World Cup at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom Sunday.
Despite overcast conditions, the young Tigers got the opportunity to prepare outdoors on the eve of perhaps one of Bangladesh cricket’s most important days in history.
On a nine-match unbeaten run, the youngsters in red and green are not taking any extra pressure upon themselves whatsoever and treating the final as just another game, said captain Akbar Ali.
The young Tigers have also somewhat lived upto the pre-tournament prediction of their skipper Akbar, who targeted playing the final.
“This is going to be a final but if we think we have to win the trophy because it is a World Cup final, then some unwanted pressure will be imposed on us. Like the way we played the whole tournament as normal matches, we will try to play the same in the final,” said Akbar to the media ahead of the all-important final.
“India are a tough team; their bowling and batting, both departments are good. And they are unbeaten. We are also unbeaten, hopefully this is going to be a good match and the plans we have made regarding them, if we execute those, then we will get the result,” Akbar added.
First-time finalist @BCBtigers will try to deny neighbor and cricketing giant @BCCI a record-extending fifth U-19 @cricketworldcup title in Sunday's championship match at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom.https://t.co/MW7DlEGYUG#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESHCRICKET #BANGLADESH
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) February 8, 2020
The task for Bangladesh however, will be an extremely tough one.
The Indians themselves are enjoying an 11-match unbeaten run in the competition, with their last defeat coming in the 2016 edition.
They have played the final six times, and won on four occasions and are the reigning champion.
The encounter will be the fifth between the sub-continent neighbors with India emerging victorious on three occasions and Bangladesh winning once.
India, en route to the final, have beaten New Zealand, Australia and Pakistan among the established nations while Bangladesh secured wins against host South Africa and New Zealand to set up the first all-Asian final since 2006.
Overall, this is the third ever all-Asian final, and the first to be held outside the sub-continent.
PM Hasina extended heartiest congratulations to the @BCBtigers U-19 team for creating history by qualifying for the final of the U-19 WC for the first time in history when they beat @BLACKCAPS by six wickets at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom Thursday.https://t.co/TyTHox8dOM#BCB
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) February 7, 2020
The wicket at Senwes Park has been known to be friendly to the pacers in the early part of the game, with the spinners coming into the equation later onwards.
Any total above 250 is considered to be match-winning at this ground in the college town of Potchefstroom.
Weather though can play spoilsport as there is possibility of rain.
In case of rainfall, the game will be held on the reserve day Monday at the same venue.
The game will begin at 2pm, Bangladesh standard time, and GTV and Star Sports 3 will telecast it live.
