In order to compete in their second ICC Under-19 World Cup, which starts on January 19, the Asian Champions Bangladesh Under-19 side will shortly take a plane to South Africa. In an exclusive conversation with The Daily Star’s Mazhar Uddin, Khaled Mahmud Sujon, the head of the game development committee for the Bangladesh Cricket Board, discussed his hopes for the next tournament and how to groom future players.
Below are some quotes from the interview:
The Daily Star (DS): How is the ICC Under-19 World Cup preparation going?
Khaled Mahmud Sujon (KMS): I believe our preparedness was enough. We have been collaborating for the last eighteen to twenty months. We brought in excellent coaches, played a lot of matches, went on a lot of tours, and upgraded the facilities. In summary, I believe we did a good job of preparing. Our initial aim was for the guys to play as a team, and they have gelled as a squad.
DS: Do you believe that since the Under-19 squad won the World Cup and Asia Cup, there is a greater expectation of them?
KMS: Without a doubt, after winning the World Cup. Due to our inadequate preparation and limited touring opportunities, we did not do well in the previous U-19 World Cup caused by the Covid-19 epidemic. Since playing overseas is essential to development, our lads are used to playing at home. We weren’t able to do well in the last event for this reason.
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DS: Are the guys experiencing expectations?
KMS: There is no pressure placed on them by us. I completely agree with Stuart Law, the head coach of the U-19 squad, that at this level, the process is crucial, and if the process is followed correctly, the desired outcome will undoubtedly be achieved. I won’t be upset since our procedure was correct even if we fall short of our goals this time. At this point, I believe pipeline development is crucial. We concentrate on developing future stars for the national team from that perspective. We are happy that several of the players from the World Cup winning squad captained by Akbar Ali now play for the national side. Players from this group should also represent the country based only on their merits. It goes without saying that we all want to win a tournament, but we also don’t want them to feel pressured to do so. We want them to gain skills including as building an innings, reaching a hundred, and bowling extended spells.
DS: What kind of transition should U-19 players make to the national squad?
KMS: I believe a bridge, although a lengthy one, should exist between the U-19 and the national squad. Since I think there are significant differences between the U-19 level and the national team, I don’t think skill alone can help you get into the national squad. It will be more difficult for them once they join the national team since players are scrutinized harder there than at the age-level. Thus, I believe they should have enough opportunity to grow as individuals in the A team and High Performance unit before joining the national squad. I believe that the A squad, the HP unit, and the Bangla Tigers should go on more away excursions.
DS: Is it a good idea, in your opinion, to promote young cricket players straight up to the national team?
KMS: Not in the slightest. They should be prepared by us in the HP unit or on the A team, in my opinion, because they are still young. The majority of athletes get straight to the national squad because selectors are likely drawn to their youthful fearlessness and excellent physical condition. However, because U-19 is a level where players should advance to the HP level, I don’t believe this should be the norm. It will be much simpler for them if they represent the national squad once they are old enough.
DS: Do you believe that Bangladesh’s lack of success at the senior level contributes to the emphasis on age-level success?
KMS: See, the U-19 squad receives more attention since they have won both the World Cup and the Asia Cup, whereas the national team hasn’t. Our procedure, in my opinion, makes us a large junior squad. We are the only cricket team in the world, I believe, that places as much focus on age groupings as we do. Some teams don’t play as many games or go on as many trips as we do, and they begin their World Cup campaigns six or eight months before the competition. Since the BCB covers the expense of the excursions, I am grateful. At the U-19 level, these youngsters believe they are a formidable squad. This explains the exceptional mental strength of people like Towhid Hridoy and others.
DS: In your opinion, is the U-19 level a development program or one that is goal-oriented?
KMS: Well, because they are a member of the game development team, the first objective is development. But, it goes without saying that the outcome matters when competing on a global scale. We strive to help them become psychologically, physically, and skillfully prepared while also providing them with the chance to play in a variety of settings and circumstances. Every time we play in the World Cup, we want to do well. A portion of our population would argue that we don’t have enough players and have a bad pipeline if we don’t do well. To tell the truth, those who make these statements are ignorant of the concept of a pipeline. Some of them, I see on TV, speak as if they have no idea how Bangladeshi cricket operates. The method we use to scout athletes is not simple, and they even disparage many of the individuals who are directly engaged in this process, such as district coaches, selectors, and development committee members. I will thus state that our pipeline is robust.
DS: There have been rumors that several players on the team are older than 19, and others have advocated for a player to only be allowed to participate in the Under-19 World Cup once. How do you feel about that?
KMS: We take this matter extremely seriously. The BCB is highly stringent, and we have performed bone testing. Although we get many requests, we don’t tolerate any anomalies. I’m not sure what the circumstances were ten years ago, but we have adhered to them rigorously ever since I assumed the position. We have a procedure in place wherein we double-check the problem if there is any misunderstanding. And, to be honest, why shouldn’t we include a player if their age permits it?