We are aiming to clinch the ICC Under-19 World Cup- skipper Akbar
Image : Cricfrenzy
|| CF Correspondent ||
In the ICC Under-19 World Cup Bangladesh achieved 3rd place in 2016 at their home soil while in the next edition Bangladesh were eliminated from the quarter-final. There is high hope regarding Bangladesh in the upcoming edition of the global tournament, considered to be the biggest platform for the age-level cricketers. Their recent performance raised expectations as the young Tigers won series in England and New Zealand and was runners up in Asia Cup. The Bangladesh youth team will leave for South Africa on January 3rd to participate in the upcoming World Cup.In an exclusive interview of Cricfrenzy skipper, Akbar Ali spoke at length regarding their goal and mindset.
CF: How was your preparation?
Akbar: We had good preparation and we played good cricket in the series leading up to the World Cup. We had a camp in Bogra and WE worked very hard to improve on our lacking in the camp. We have a balanced side. We are going in the world cup in very good condition.
CF: How confident are you about your team?
Akbar: Not only me but every player in the team believes we can win the World Cup title this year. We will go there to win the title. We will be focusing to improve match by match. We want to ensure quarterfinal first. Then we want to move on from there. The whole team things like that.
CF: You were quite successful in the Asia Cup as well as in England and New Zealand. Tell us the reason behind this success?
Akbar: Our main strength lies in playing as a team. When the batsman doesn’t perform the bowlers come forward and rescue us. When the bowler had a bad day the batsman takes the extra responsibility. We have won so many games because of collective performance. The team wants to play as a united force. Everybody is very clear about their roles as well. No player has any doubt about their ability. Everybody is contributing from their own position. Some day somebody is taking additional responsibility. Everybody is trying their best and give their best for team success.
CF: The condition in South Africa is quite different?
Akbar: We know there is going to be seaming condition and bouncy wicket. So we tried to prepare us on grassy wicket in Bogra. We were trying to play in condition that is similar to South African condition and we have taken other preparation very well. We will take preparation in South Africa too. So I think we can all execute our plans.
CF: How will the experience of playing in New Zealand and England help you in South Africa?
Akbar: Of course it will help us. The wicket in South Africa will be very much like the ones where we played in England and New Zealand so the player will feel nothing new about the condition. Those experiences will help if we want to do well in the World Cup.
CF: Who will be your trump card in the tournament?
Akbar: Everybody in our team has done well in recent time so I cannot talk about any specific player. In every match someone or the other is performing so there is no pressure and more importantly everyone knows their roles.
CF: You are performing quite consistently?
Akbar: As I told you before everybody is clear about their roles in the team. I bat at number 5 or 6 position. Sometimes I have to play long innings and sometimes have to make quick runs. It all depends on the situation of the game. Our head coach and the coaching staff have done a lot of work with the whole team. They have given lot of time to every player. We have a clear mindset which is very important in our team. The whole team is performing for a clear mindset. In the last three or four months where ever we played we have performed so I think in South Africa our whole team will perform including me.
CF: Our best performance in the ICC Under-19 World Cup is earning a third-place finish in our home condition. Your team is doing very well and everybody is very hopeful about your team. Is there any burden of expectation?
Akbar : We are very hopeful like everybody and everyone is saying good things about us. We do not want to disappoint anybody. We will try and play our best cricket and if we can perform as a team we can make it happen. But at the same time, we are not taking any burden of expectation on our shoulder
