Coronavirus hampers Under-19 women’s team making
Photo: Collected
|| CF Correspondent ||
The dreadful coronavirus pandemic worldwide has halted Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) plan to form the first-ever women Under-19 cricket team on hold.
The process of forming the women’s Under-19 team began last year, said BCB women’s wing coach Ruhul Amin.
Amin also said they launched a search across the country after being directed from the board, especially BCB director Mollick sir (IH Mollick) after which they whittled down the squad with 24 promising cricketers.
“Initially, we sought names of Under-18 cricketers from each district. Every district sent on an average five-seven names. Then we had a three-day camp with players from the districts under the respective division,” said Ruhul Amin, who was extensively involved in the process as a coach.
“We formed a divisional team from that camp. With eight divisional teams, we had a national Under-18 league at Mymensingh in November 2019. Each girl could play seven matches. Then from that tournament we spotted 40 talented young girls and brought them to a camp at Cox’s Bazar for a month [February-March],” Amin told Cricfrenzy.com.
“After that camp, we prepared a list of 24 girls and submitted it to BCB but sadly we could not move on with them as the corona situation arose just a few days after we finished the camp,” he added.
BCB women’s wing in-charge Tawhid Mahmood said they are hopeful of making a team when cricketing activities resume.
“As all sporting activities are on hold, the women’s Under-19 team activities are also on hold. When normal cricket operation resumes, their activities will resume too,” Tawhid Mahmood said.
But Sanjida Akhter Meghla, a BKSP student who was selected for the camp in Cox’s Bazar told that she was still hopeful about the Under-19 World Cup.
“As the World Cup is not officially postponed yet, I am really hopeful. I would like to use the Under-19 World Cup as a platform for the national team,” Sanjida Akhter said.
