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A shrewd plan leads Junior Tigers to clinch Asia Cup

Rtv news

  18 Dec 2023, 22:46

A successful execution of a six-month plan led Bangladesh Under-19 to clinch the coveted Asia Cup title, said captain Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby.

The Junior Tigers crushed United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 195 runs in the final to secure their first Asian title as an unbeaten champion. On the way to move to the final they beat UAE, Japan and then Sri Lanka convincingly in the group phase before beating the tournament's most successful team India by four wickets in the semifinal.

UAE might be a weaker opponent on paper but they played excellent cricket to move to the final. Despite being beaten by Bangladesh in the group phase, they beat Sri Lanka and Japan in the group phase and then stunned Pakistan in the semifinal.

But against a spirited Bangladesh, they couldn't put up minimum resistance.

"With an aim to secure the title we went to play the Asia Cup but we took it as match by match," said Rabby after arriving in the country from UAE today to a hero's welcome.

"We have to give the due credit to our coaches and the team management. Everyone was desperate to win the title. Cricketers executed the plan in the ground. We have devised a plan six months ago for this tournament. From that time, we dreamt of winning the title," he added without elaborating their plan.

Ahead of the tournament, Bangladesh played a tournament in India, featuring India A team, B team and England Under-19 team but they didn't do quite well in that tournament.

Despite that hiccup, they were not mentally shattered as they learnt from their mistakes and showed the unwavering resolve, required to win a title.
Rabby in fact was given captaincy, replacing Ahrar Amin after that tournament.

The Under-19 team clinched a World Cup, led by Akbar Ali in 2020. Most of the players of that team have already made it to the national team.

Rabby said their prime target is to win the Under-19 World Cup, which will be held in South Africa next year.

"All of our players have been in good touch. The Asia Cup victory obviously boosted us to win the World Cup. Hopefully we'll translate this performance into the World Cup to make the nation proud again," he remarked.

Opener Ashiqur Rahman Shibly was instrumental in clinching the title, scoring tournament's highest 378 runs in five matches. He hit two centuries including one in final and two half-centuries. Only against India, he failed to reach fifty. He was however adjudged man of the series.

Shibly who idolizes Indian great Virat Kohli, said he played as per match situation and tried his best to contribute for the team.

"I have no mindset that I have to be the best scorer of the tournament. I tried to play as the team demands from me," he said.

"It's obviously a good feeling that the team became champions and I scored highest runs. Now our target is to do well in World Cup. This is the only
target now. I am not thinking about national team or anything else at this moment," he added.

Source: BSS

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