Bangladesh Under-19 cricket team captain Azizul Hakim said that keeping faith in his bowlers paid off in their 59-run victory over India in the ACC U-19 Asia Cup final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the UAE on Sunday.
Bangladesh was bowled out for just 198 runs in 49.1 overs, but the low total couldn鈥檛 deter their spirit.
The junior Tigers clawed back strongly by dismissing India for 139 runs in 35.2 overs to retain the title.聽
The pacers, who were instrumental throughout the tournament, stood up for Bangladesh in the final as well.聽
Right-arm pacer Iqbal Hossain Emon took three vital wickets, whereas captain Azizul wrapped it up with the figures of 3-8 with his off-spin.聽
Emon was adjudged player of the final for his figure of 3-24 from seven overs. The right-arm pacer also won the player of the match award with the figures of 4-24 when Bangladesh blew away Pakistan in the semi-finals.
In the final, Emon first broke the crucial partnership between captain Mohammed Amaan and KP Karthikeya by dismissing the latter.聽
Nikhil Kumer became his second victim one ball later. And in his next over, Emon scalped the wicket of Harvansh Pangalia.聽
Emon dented the Indian middle order heavily, and they couldn鈥檛 recover from that. In fact, all the pacers did their jobs beautifully.聽
Two other pacers, Al Fahad and Maruf Mridha, made early inroads by dismissing the Indian openers.聽
鈥業 was confident with our bowling. You saw it in the semi-finals that they鈥檙e capable. So I was confident with our bowling side,鈥� said captain Azizul, who was seen wrapping the national flag around his back in the presentation ceremony.
Azizul also revealed what their plan was against the Indian batting line-up, who chased down 173 runs in just 21.4 overs in their seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the semi-finals.聽
鈥業ndian batters are very good, but they may have been struggling with scoring on the off side,鈥� said Azizul. 鈥楽o I and our coach planned that we would hit the fourth stump line.鈥�
Azizul鈥檚 counterpart Amaan also admitted that the lack of a big partnership cost them in the final.聽
鈥榃ickets fell at regular intervals,鈥� said Amaan. 鈥榃e do have a lot of depth in our batting but couldn鈥檛 make big partnerships.鈥�
It was all a festive occasion for the Bangladesh side, though, as they got the lion鈥檚 share of the support from the spectators on the ground.聽
聽鈥業 just want to say to all the supporters and the people back in Bangladesh that, Thank you. We appreciate all the support,鈥� said the Bangladesh captain.聽
The Bangladesh captain also said that they would now turn their focus onto the U-19 World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia in 2026.
鈥榃e鈥檙e now a positive and happy side,鈥� said Azizul. 鈥業nsha鈥檃llah we will do good in the World Cup.鈥�
