DHAKA: 9 February 2020 may very well turn out to be a milestone setting day for Bangladesh cricket. At two different venues two different cricket teams of Bangladesh appears against two formidable sub continent neighbours with two different perspectives. While senior teams against Pakistan at Rawalpindi requires vastly improved performance with ball and bat to prove competitive, young tigers are on the verge of stepping into cricket history. If they win against very strong India getting over the nerves of finals they will be heralded as the first Bangladesh team winning championship from a global tournament in any form of team games. India on the other hand would go all out for defending their title and going for their 5th glory in Under 19 world championship. This very competent Bangladesh team in the recent past appeared in the finals against the same opposition in regional completion and twice they threw away the towel from seemingly winning position. Bangladeshi cricket admirer all over the world will sincerely hope that Akbar and his men are third time lucky. At least this time for a change this team did not show any nerve and displayed wonderful brand of wonderful cricket
What Is Expected Of Senior Team Today?
The story of the senior team is very different. Bangladesh for a while is languishing at the bottom of test ranking. Minus Shakib and Mushfique the team looks very ordinary. They are lying way behind in the test. By the end of the day they may have to have uphill task ahead of them to save humiliation in the test. But history would tell you Bangladesh fought back in the past against same opposition. Tamim scored a brilliant double hundred and Imrul a big hundred in the second innings putting together a record opening partnership. Tamim is there and in Mominul, Mahmudullah ,Liton and Mithun on a now flat wicket Bangladesh must bat out of their skins in the second innings.
ICC Under 19 World Cup 2020 Final
It does not matter what history says Bangladesh and India in this Under 19 World cup are two evenly matched teams. Though India has their nose a bit in front but that is only just. If India have Kartik Tyagi and Sushant Mishra with the searing pace upfront, Bangladesh have the rapid Tanzim Hasan Sakib and the accurate Shoriful Islam to counter that. For a Ravi Bishnoi, there's a Rakibul Hasan, for a Yashasvi Jaiswal there's a Tanzid Hasan. They are evenly matched all right.
Seven times in the past these two teams faced off each other. Two matches were abandoned for weather interferences. India holds 4-1 upper hands. But few matches were close encounters. At the 2018 Asia Cup semi-final, India sneaked through with a two-run win, while in the 2019 Asia Cup final, India won by five runs. The last time Bangladesh beat India - in England last July - they won by two wickets. The way these two unbeaten teams of this tournament played so far the teams holding on their composure would win today.
Heavy rain is in the forecast at some stage of the game today. There is a reserve day. If weather seriously interrupts both the day the honours would be shared. The match is expected to draw cheerful cricket admirers of both teams at JB Marks Oval. There won’t be dearth of gaiety and fanfare.
Team news
Both sides are likely to stay unchanged for the final. There are no injury concerns for either team.
India (Probables):
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Divyaansh Saxena, TilakVarma, DhruvJurel (wk), Priyam Garg (capt), Siddhesh Veer, Atharva Ankolekar, Ravi Bishnoi, Sushant Mishra, KartikTyagi, and Aakash Singh
Bangladesh (Probables):
Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanzid Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Towhid Hridoy, Shahadat Hossain, Shamim Hossain, Akbar Ali (Capt, wk), Rakibul Hasan, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, and Hasan Murad
India has won many. It will be an added feather to their crown. But if Bangladesh wins this will be their first. This team is playing together over the past two years in different countries under different conditions. They are in a mission for achieving a vision. Akbar and his men will walk into history. Most of the team members in not too distant future will feature in the national team. They have played nerveless cricket showing maturity. India is strong opposition no doubt but not invincible.
BDST: 1152 HRS, FEB 09, 2020
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