“Our objective was to create avenues for opportunities.”

Mainul Islam

May 18, 2023

1.8 minutes

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Author:

Mainul Islam

50

“Our objective was to create avenues for opportunities.”

Yesterday at the Shahid Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi, the Bangladesh Under-19 team suffered a four-wicket defeat against their Pakistani counterparts in the solitary T20 match. Chasing a target of 160 runs set by Bangladesh, Pakistan achieved the victory with six wickets in hand and five balls to spare. Opener Shamyl Hossain showcased an impressive performance, scoring 67 runs off 49 deliveries, including seven fours and a six.

This win sealed a successful tour for the Pakistani team, as they emerged victorious in the lone youth Test match and also dominated the five-match one-day series, winning it 4-1.

Throughout the tour, Bangladesh’s batting performance raised concerns, with the young Tigers failing to surpass the 200-run mark in any of the five one-day matches against Pakistan. The only instance where Bangladesh crossed the 200-run milestone during the entire tour was in the second innings of the lone youth Test. However, despite their efforts, they faced a comprehensive 10-wicket defeat in that match.

As per age-level selector Hannan Sarkar, the recently concluded home series against Pakistan served as an experimental phase, aiming to create opportunities and assess the bench strength of the team in preparation for the upcoming ICC Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka next year.

“Our team performed well in Pakistan and also emerged as the champions in the tri-nation series held in the UAE, featuring Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. Our intention was to provide chances to other players within the squad during this home series. As a result, six cricketers made their debut against Pakistan,” shared Hannan with The Daily Star.

Considering potential injuries and various other factors, it was crucial for us to groom backup players in anticipation of the World Cup. While our results against Pakistan might not have been ideal, our primary focus was not on the outcomes. This series was part of a comprehensive experimental process, keeping our long-term goal of the World Cup next year in mind.

Next on the agenda, the young Tigers are set to host South Africa for a five-match one-day series in July. Additionally, the board is planning to organize a tri-nation series before the Asia Cup, scheduled later this year.

Last Updated: May 18, 2023