Unfazed by rain, Junior Tigers confident against NZ

Bangla Press Desk:  In their bid to progress beyond the group phase of the Under-19 World Cup, the 2020 champions, Bangladesh, face a dual challenge in Bulawayo: a crucial encounter with New Zealand and a battle against the elements.

All three Group B matches at the venue have been marred by rain so far. After a frustrating opening defeat to India, more inclement weather is forecast for Tuesday’s match against the Kiwis. 

However, age-group selector Ehsanul Haque Seezan insists the team is not letting the forecast dampen their spirits.

“There is a rain prediction of over 90%, but the drainage system here is world-class,” Seezan told Daily Sun. “No matter the downpour, the match can usually restart within 15 minutes. We aren't letting the weather get into our heads.”

Reflecting on the opening match, Seezan admitted the "stop-start" nature of the game and Indian tactics proved a hurdle. Chasing a revised target, Bangladesh eventually fell 18 runs short under the DLS method.

“The situation was critical. India employed many tactics to waste time when we were well ahead on DLS,” Seezan remarked. “We played cautiously to preserve wickets, believing we were in a winning position, but the shifting equations and fading light ultimately puzzled the players. Without the rain, chasing 238 would have been straightforward.”

Despite the setback, the camp remains buoyant. Captain Azizul Hakim has been cleared of any injury concerns.

Speaking ahead of the New Zealand clash, Al Fahad echoed the team's pragmatic approach to the weather. 

“There is rain, and we have prepared ourselves for that. We have been training with wet balls, so we aren’t thinking too much about the conditions,” he said. 

“We are confident that we will do well against New Zealand. Hopefully, something good will happen.”

BP/SP