After years of near-misses at the world cup, Bangladesh finally brought the trophy home thanks to the indomitable spirit of the under-19 cricket team. The whole nation has been swept up in a tide of joy as the young athletes made history on the pitch thousands of miles away from home.
Bangladesh won the ICC Under-19 World Cup title after beating out India by three wickets in South Africa. U-19 captain Akbar Ali led Bangladesh to the title and was declared player of the match. The team credited hard work by the players and the management for their resounding victory.
The world cup win highlighted the immense potential held by the youth of the country and has reignited hope and passion in each and every person in the country. All eyes were glued to the TV screen on Sunday, as the young players took on rivals India in a make or break match.
Management and officials have also credited the win to good planning and preparation which took place over the last 18 months. Moreover, the stellar teamwork exhibited by the young athletes was a crucial factor in the team achieving such a massive victory.
The intense, action packed match left everyone on the edge of their seats, as we watched the team edge closer and closer to bringing home the trophy. The nation rejoiced as one as the Tigers rallied as one and defeated bitter rivals India.
The Tigers’ captivating performance has impressed cricket fans all over the world, and has also drawn praise from legendary cricketers as well. Stars in the arena of cricket have commended Bangladesh on their ability to win a tournament in a spectacular style.
Bangladeshi pacers wowed the audience with fiery performances in South Africa’s Potchefstroom. Seamer Shoriful showed sheer aggression along with Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Avishek Das. The tight bowling from Bangladesh contributed to India’s defeat and hard work from seamers in the nets with the new ball worked wonders Tigers.
The youngsters also credited the crowd for the monumental victory as well as throughout the tournament, which motivated the cricketers to perform well. What was once a distant dream for us, has now become a reality as the Under-19 Bangladesh team has achieved the impossible through sheer determination and hard work.
The young cricketers managed to do what their older counterparts have struggled to for a long time. Indeed, the senior team has come tantalizing close to trophy wins multiple times, each time facing bitter disappointment instead.
The win has highlighted the need to focus on the next generation of athletes and help them in the process of honing their craft. While the sports sector is tragically underfunded, the win provided a glimpse of home for what could be achieved if we give talented youngsters the scope and support.
Bangladesh is rich in human resource, i.e., a majority of our population consists of young people under 30. It is a shame for us, that despite consistent efforts on part of the present government, we are not able to help provide them with enough opportunities for them to excel in life.
The world cup win highlighted the immense
potential held by the youth of the country and
has reignited hope and passion in
each and every person in the country
Not only is their potential and their talent wasted, moreover, these youths get so frustrated with lack of opportunities that they give up entirely. Many talented and gifted youths are unable to pursue their dreams of becoming professional athletes due to poverty and other socio-economic factors.
The youth of our country are the most under-utilized resource that we have at our disposal. With proper training and guidelines, the youth of Bangladesh will become invaluable in the development of the country.
Physical education and the development of sports must therefore be made a top priority for the authorities. What we must realize that the talent of our youth is being wasted as there is not enough to entice them to pursue a career in sports.
Societal pressure and values is also a factor as many parents deter their children from pursuing a career in athletics. They think that there is no future in such fields and doing so would be a waste of their time. However, we must change this perception if we want to see Bangladesh grab more trophies in the future.
Synthia Kainath Nur
is working with
Bangladesh Post