ZCZC
BSP-18
CRICKET-U-19-AKBAR
Bangladesh U19 confident of doing well in youth World Cup
DHAKA, Jan 17, 2020 (BSS) – Despite faring badly in the warm-up matches, Bangladesh Under-19 skipper Akbar Ali was upbeat about their chances in the ensuing ICC Under-19 World Cup in South Africa.
The young Tigers are set to begin their campaign against Zimbabwe on January 18.
Ahead of starting their journey in the tournament proper, the Bangladeshi youths tied against Australia while New Zealand defeated them by four wickets in the warm-up games.
But according to their skipper Akbar they are totally focused on the tournament proper, leaving behind their disappointing performance in the warm-up matches.
”The preparation that we need, it has already happened before coming to South Africa. Now we have to prepare mentally and we are focusing on that,” Akbar Ali said.
”We are 110 percent prepared. The preparation is very well. We are hoping to play the game that we have been playing for last three four months. All the players of our squad are well prepared,” he added.
Bangladesh Cricket Board too has left no stone unturned in aiding the team’s preparations, including giving them exposure in England and New Zealand to have a firsthand experience of playing in seaming conditions. The last stint of their preparation was on the bouncy wickets at Bogra, just ahead of the global event.
Akbar believes now it’s time to deliver in the middle as they have put in all the hard work.
“Of course it [the experience in England and New Zealand] will help us. The wicket and the conditions of England and New Zealand are quite similar to South Africa so our players will feel nothing new about the conditions and these experiences will certainly help us do well in the World Cup,” he said.
BSS/SMP/SMM/1950 hrs