U-19 WC 2010: Our target is to make it to the last four: Mahmudul Hasan

[Miraz]

ICC U19 Cricket World Cup New Zealand 2010
Our target is to make it to the last four: Mahmudul Hasan

Wednesday, 06 January 2010

The Bangladesh Under 19 Team will leave for New Zealand tonight to participate in the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup 2010. On the eve of their departure Bangladesh captain Mahmudul Hasan, Head Coach Minhajul Abedin and Team Manager Tanjeeb Ahsan spoke to the media:

Mahmudul Hasan

On the team’s strength and weakness and the difference between the present team and the squad in the last U 19 World Cup of which he had been a member

We have a strong fielding side. The batting has come together nicely. If I have to comment on weakness then I guess we have a lot of room for improvement in the pace bowling area.

I think the main difference between the last Under 19 team and the present one is that there was an age gap between players last time around and in this team we are all around the same age level. We have been given the opportunity to grow as a team and therefore the team spirit is excellent. We know each other really well and there is great camaraderie.

Target in the ICC U19 CWC 2010

You can’t go into a mission without setting a target. Our target is to make it to the last four in the World Cup which we are capable of.

Minhajul Abedin

On preparation for the World Cup

We started in last April and have played a good number of games at home and away against England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. The core group has remained together and we have had some very impressive performances along the way. If I have to be critical then I would say that we are 90 percent there.

It’s true that we have not played in New Zealand conditions before but the trip to England last year should help in countering that. Also, for the last one month or so the conditions at home have been similar. It has been chilly and the teams have struggled with dew in the ongoing Tri-Nation. In the last tournament we played in Sri Lanka the wickets had grass although the weather was really humid and sultry.

Expectations

Our goal is to reach the last four. We have not managed to do that in past events and therefore it is not a bad target to set and something we can achieve. I say this because from what I have seen so far we are probably at the standard of the top four teams in terms of strength. There is not a big difference.

Key players in the team

There are three who I believe will do well at any level. Opening batsman Anamul Haque has been a brilliant find. Very positive and fearless. The skipper (Mahmudul) has been our most consistent performer with the bat and ball. Shabbir Rahaman is an exciting leg-break bowler who also has tremendous ability with the bat.

I am also excited with the fact that we are taking two specialist leg spinners to New Zealand (Shabbir and Nur Hossain). As a part of strategy we may even open the bowling in New Zealand a la Dipak Patel in 1992. I have a lot of faith in this team.

Tanjeeb Ahsan

On his squad

I can tell you that you won’t find a more disciplined side. Discipline is one of the pre-requisites for success and if the players can combine that with the performance that they are capable of then I can am very confident that we will do really well in New Zealand.

BCB : Media Department

[al Furqaan]

best of luck for them...hope the leggies develop into test class leggies soon.

want to see wickets for abul hasan, and consistent batting from anamul, mominul, and the skipper.

[Naimul_Hd]

best wishes to them. if we can play according to our potential, that would be enough to beat others. cheers !

[Aritro]

If they intend to open the bowling with a spinner then I take it that the pace options are rubbish?

Haven't followed this U/19s team anywhere near as closely as previous ones.

[beshideshi]

If I am not mistaken, Abul hossain looked decent and with proper guidance should make the national team sometime[along with Anamul, Mahmud, Shaker etc]
Good luck to them, hope they can exceed expectations

[_Rafi_]

Abul hasan is not mentioned by Skipper and Manager. He is the biggest hope for our u19 to do well in pace friendly wicket.

[Purbasha T]

Really excited about this.

[zainab]

Hope they can proceed to the QF, so I can watch them play a few games.

[Equinox]

Will this be our year? I hope so. Good luck to the boys!

[kalpurush]

Best of lucj to my lil Tigers

[RazabQ]

What worries me is there's no Rajib or even a Dolar in this squad. I _am_ excited about the leggies though

[Tendulkar_Mcgrath]

Best of luck boys....

[bujhee kom]

All my heart-felt best wishes to skipper Mahmudul and his boys!
Rock on Bangladesh!!!

[zainab]

So many teams are hopeful of proceeding to the Quarter Finals e.g. WI, Australia, Pakistan, NZ, SA, Sl, Ireland, BD and many other hopefuls, but only 4 teams can make it. I guess BD has to play our of their skins to make it. I will be cheering for them.

[Naimul_Hd]

Appeal to Moderators :

Can you guys make a thread and sticky it regarding all the news relating to Bangladesh Under 19 WC team ! it will surely save our time to search every news from the whole list. thanks !