When the Tigers scripted a new chapter in their ODI history with a first-ever series win against a formidable South Africa on their home turf before the Eid break, their future successors also scored an equally impressive 5-2 win against their South African counterparts away from home during the Eid holidays. Pinak Ghosh, a 16-year-old opener from Netrokona, hogged the spotlight by hitting a magnificent 141-ball 150 with 21 fours and a six that gave Bangladesh Under-19s a 58-run win in the sixth match at Durban on July 17. Joyraz Sheik then hit a superb 106-ball 90 in the last game of the seven-match one-day series on July 19 as the visitors finished the tour with a 22-run win.
There was doubt if the Bangladesh Under-19s could offset their home success, 6-1 win against the South African youths when they toured Bangladesh in April, in different conditions. BCB’s national manager of Game Development Nazmul Abedin Fahim however was not surprised by the outstanding performance of the junior Tigers against the current U-19 world champions.
“We have got a very balanced side. Most importantly I think it’s the self-confidence which helped the team to bring success even on foreign soil. Like the senior players, the under-19 players also believe that they can beat any team in the world. And you know apart from India, we have had good records in bilateral series at this level in the last few years. Now, we have to do something in the World Cup,” said Fahim. The next Youth World Cup will take place in Bangladesh in January-February next year.
Fahim, a veteran coach, said left-handed opener Pinak has a bright future.
“He just came from the under-17 squad and showed that he had the ability to score big. There are a number of good players in the side but there is something special about Pinak,” added Fahim.
In the final game captain Mehedi Hasan claimed four wickets after Joyraz’s 90 as the visitors finished the series on a high. Chasing 267, the home team needed 26 to win off the last two overs with three wickets remaining, but Hasan’s double-strike in the 49th over dashed their hopes.
Fahim believes that the success in South Africa will serve the team as a huge boost ahead of next year’s Youth World Cup, where their best performance so far has been a distant fifth position during the 2006 edition.
-With The Daily Star input
