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Journalism of Courage
In the final hour of play at the SCC today one saw cricket coming a full circle. For the long everyone’s favourite prey, Bangladesh today turned predator, toying with Uganda as they coasted to a 171-run win to top their group.
Specialist batsmen got a sudden urge to bowl, appeals turned down were referred to the computer analyst in the press box and players fielding on the fence were busy chatting with those on bench. The jury’s still out on the logic behind granting Bangladeshs Test status but there’s no doubt of their strength in the world of junior cricket.
‘‘We’ve been doing well in the last few years but people don’t notice results’’, says assistant coach Abedeen Nazmul. ‘‘The World Cup is the stage where statements and made, and recorded too.’’
Nazmul speaks from recent experience: of late, Bangladesh have beaten Sri Lanka, Australia, England (comprehensively) and Pakistan.
But they know the importance of this tournament and have come with the biggest support staff in the entire tournament — more than double that of Australia. Trainer, physio, coach, assistant coach, manager, computer analyst, selectors.
They can’t afford to take chances, says Nazmul, and he’s very right. ‘‘The under-19 team is our only supply line. Everyone in the Bangladesh Cricket Board is clear that there can’t be any compromises here.’’
Ask computer analyst Mohd Salauddin how long he’s been recording the present bunch and he answers in a flat monotone: ‘‘For the past three years.’’
This is actually part of a five-year plan, says team manager Golam Mohammed, a former Bangladesh fast bowler. ‘‘The cricketers that we had picked five years back are now approaching 19 and peaking perfectly. Most of these kids have played together in different age-group teams, that’s why they gel perfectly together. We can now hope to get the rewards of our long term planning,’’ he says.
The team’s Tasmanian coach Allister de Winter, who took charge of the squad just nine months back, can’t have enough of the boys. ‘‘This is a matured unit, they are well groomed and ready for top-level cricket,’’ he says.
A big part of the grooming is Bangladesh’s cricketing culture and structure. The inter-club Dhaka Premier League — which 11 of this team have played in — has the intensity of the English Premiership and crowd support that India sees only in ODIs.
‘‘Though we’ve now restricted entry to foreign players, club cricket has seen the likes of Shahid Afridi, Jayasuriya, Akram, Ganguly and Fairbrother’’, says Nazmul.
Is cricket a viable career option? He smiles and says, ‘‘An average player can hope to get about $5,000-7,000 for a season. Plus a national player can get more playing for national side. You decide if that’s incentive enough.’’
Nepal: The new Bangladesh?
After defeating Ireland, who ran England close yesterday, Nepal today made itself the odds on favourite to be the Plate champion—the title for the second stringers. And the team that is playing it’s fourth World Cup might be the the Asian black horse in the fifth edition in two years’ time. The manager of the team Tarini Sha, who led took Nepal first team abroad in 1972 says the system is in place. Watch this space.
ICC Under-19 WORLD CUP
Thursday’s Results
Bangladesh 255 in 49.4 overs (Mushfiqur Rahim 64) bt Uganda 84 in 33.4 overs by 171 runs
USA 148 in 42.5 overs lost to Australia 149-6 in 24.1 overs by four wickets
Scotland 156 in 48 overs lost to Namibia 160-3 in 36.3 overs (D Botha 55 no) by seven wickets
Nepal 234-8 in 50 overs (Veswarkar 82) bt Ireland 174 in 45.3 overs (Morgan 86) by 60 runs
