DHAKA: Bangladesh Under-19 cricket team finishing third among 16 participating teams in the very successfully organized ICC U-19 World Cup cricket tournament has widened the vision of Bangladesh in world cricket.

The flawless tournament has also brightened the image of Bangladesh as one of the safest places of the world for hosting any sporting event.

Four South Asian teams -- India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan -- finishing among the top five proved that South Asians are mostly impregnable in their home front. But, one stand out team, a new look West Indies playing wonderfully aggressive cricket changed all pre-tournament permutations and combinations.

The stormy manner they tormented opponents in the knock out stages from quarter final to the final augured well for cricket in general.

The success of West Indies youth have heralded a new sunrise for cricket in the Caribbean.  One of the leading contenders of world cricket in every format of every age group, Australia, preferred to opt out on the plea of security concern. The event free well organized tournament proved that Australians acted on unrealistic alerts. We are sure DFAT will reassess the situation and would soon advise CA to organize bilateral cricket series in Bangladesh as soon as possible.

West Indies Cricket, for many reasons, is going through a lean period. Cricket has bound some countries into a united force. It possesses a glorious past of enviable calypso brand of entertaining cricket. So many Caribbean cricket legends graced the cricket world.

But after winning back to back World Cup tournaments in 1975 and 1979 West Indies did not win any major global tournament in 50-over matches.

The then hot favorite West Indies lost the final to India at Lords in 1983. This time, the West Indian teenagers’ upset hot favorite Indian Under-19s in Dhaka would revive Cricket in West Indies.

They were rank outsiders. No one in the wildest of dreams ever thought West Indies could win it. But looking at the manner they swept past Pakistan, Bangladesh and finally India deserves accolades.

Cricket is the only game where morning does not always show the day. England crashed West Indies in the very first game giving indication of their appetite for going deep into the tournament. But they ultimately finished 6th losing the momentum at half the way. West Indies which struggled to qualify for quarter-final edging out Zimbabwe only just changed hue in the business session. Pakistan was blown off at quarter, favorite home boys were consumed in the semi-final and hot favorite India was toppled in the final.

West Indian pacers Alzarri Joseph and Chemar K Holder were the key to their success. On not so fast track they tormented and teased top batsmen of all three teams making early damages and letting quality seamers of the team in setting lease around the batsmen.

The Caribbean batsmen, taking clue of their bowlers, batted with courage and even patience. They rarely grind and graft. But these boys adapted so smartly to the match situation that deserves deep appreciation. Springers way of celebration was also the brand of West Indies cricket. The key to success of West Indies was possibly the ability of the think tank in correctly assessing the weakness and strength of each opponent in knockout stage. They were worthy winners.

Another team that revealed in the tournament was host Bangladesh. They looked very composed till they were shocked in the semi-final by the ultimate winner West Indies. The tiger teenagers played top quality all-round cricket. Enigmatic captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz was very successful with both bat and ball. He also led the team from the front. His all-round ability earned him the rare award of player of the tournament.

The team had quality batsmen, good spin attack, good enough new ball bowlers. But what they lacked was an express bowler capable of bowling at 135 Kmh+. Saif and Pinak failed to deliver, Shanto failed in important matches. Only Miraz was the consistent performer with the bat. The wickets prepared under care of ICC curator did not suit Bangladesh brand of attack. Moreover, Bangladesh could not get home advantage and venue advantage.

Bangladesh made some strategic mistakes as well which led them loose the match.  The decision of batting after winning the toss in the semi-final hurt their cause. West Indies had the best pace attack, wicket had early morning moisture and environment was swing friendly. Bangladesh top order failed to adapt to the condition.

Middle order led by redoubtable Miraz did the recovery. But once he got out tail failed to wag. Bangladesh score of 226 was around 20 runs less than par. Yet the tigers fought till the last breadth and did not die wandering. Finishing third even was a major achievement for Bangladesh.

Nazmul Hossain Shanto became the top run getter in Under 19 international cricket, Miraz became the top wicket taker.

The teenage tigers demonstrated quality and maturity evidencing rolling progress of Bangladesh Cricket. If the emerging quality cricketers of Bangladesh have right breeding ground in well-structured domestic cricket, Bangladesh will grow as a force to reckon with in World Cricket soon.

The most disappointing team of the team was South Africa. The reigning champions failed to impress. They could not adjust to Bangladesh condition and were easy preys. England had mixed success. They looked great in the first round. But once getting spun out by Sri Lanka in the quarter final they lost momentum.

India was by far the strongest team of the tournament winning all matches in a dominating manner. But they were surprised by a changed West Indies in the final. Yet they almost defended their very small score.  India lost to a superior team on the day.

Finally, a word or two about the security arrangements must be said. The entire tournament went off without any incident reported. There were festive atmosphere in all venues. All participating teams appreciated.

ICC had full praise. Cricket traditionally is played with the highest passion in Bangladesh. In future, any team before making any statement about playing environment in Bangladesh must take lesson from the recently concluded tournament.

BDST: 0924 HRS, FEB 16, 2016
SR