Nazmul expects Bangladesh to win title

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan Papon tipped Bangladesh and India as the tournament fovourites, stating that the home side will go into the final winning the semifinal of the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup 2016.
Bangladesh will face-off either Pakistan or West Indies in the semi-final at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on February 11.
“It’s a great thing that we could have given our attention to this team from the very beginning. In terms of performance, fitness, skills and techniques, they’re comparatively better than the previous occasions. They’ve been continuously performing well,” said Nazmul Hassan.
“Still they’re playing well and confirmed the semifinal spot. As so far I got to know, Bangladesh and India are the most favourite teams in this tournament,” Papon told media before the scheduled lunch party with Bangladesh U-19 Cricket team at The Westin Hotel in the capital yesterday.
The board of directors, CEO and BCB officials were also present.
“Now we’ve to move forward match by match approach. Our next match is semifinal, which is important to win. To reach our expected destination, we’ve to win the semifinal first and the we could play in the final,” he added.
BCB president talked with the players twice before and after the lunch, where he discussed with them about the next possible opponent and its strength.   
“I’ve talked with them about the strength of the other semifinalists of the tournament. Along with them, I’ve talked about their ultimate target,” he said.
“After talking with them, I got to know that they’re very much confident of going into the final. It deems to me that we’ll go into the final winning the semifinal,” he thought.
President said that he told them to have lunch with them after confirming the semifinal spot of the multinational tournament, where Bangladesh is yet to win the trophy despite being favourite tag in the past.
He said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina along with ICC president will grace the final of the 16-nation tournament to be held on February 14.
“ICC president Zaheer Abbas will come in the day of the final to give the trophy. It turns to be a routine that ICC president will give the trophy to the winning team,” Papon said, adding “Prime Minister will also be present. She wanted to come in the semifinal but boys expect her in the final.”
BCB boss said that they have announcement for the boys but they’ll not do it at the moment.
“We’ve declaration for them but we could not announce it at the moment. It may be a pressure on them if we announce it on the stroke of the tournament,” Papon said, adding “If they could play in the final then they will get many more things.”
 On the other hand, middle-order batsman Zakir Hasan, who stitched a match-winning 117-run partnership with Mehidy Hasan Miraz against Nepal in the quarterfinal, seeks to get West Indies as their semifinal opponent.
“We know West Indies better than Pakistan. We’ve played against them. So, they’ll be better opponent in the semifinal for us,” said Zakir.
But head coach Mizanur Rahman Babul said that they are poised to face any of them.
“Our players played against Sri Lanka, South Africa (home and away), India, West Indies and Afghanistan. They’re experienced enough. They know how to handle the pressure and how to play under pressure situation,” said Babul.
“We are ready to face the winners of Pakistan and West Indies match in the semifinal,” he also said.

Nazmul expects Bangladesh to win title

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan Papon tipped Bangladesh and India as the tournament fovourites, stating that the home side will go into the final winning the semifinal of the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup 2016. Bangladesh will face-off either Pakistan or West Indies in the semi-final at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on February 11. Its a great thing that we could have given our attention to this team from the very beginning. In terms of performance, fitness, skills and techniques, theyre comparatively better than the previous occasions. Theyve been continuously performing well, said Nazmul Hassan. Still theyre playing well and confirmed the semifinal spot. As so far I got to know, Bangladesh and India are the most favourite teams in this tournament, Papon told media before the scheduled lunch party with Bangladesh U-19 Cricket team at The Westin Hotel in the capital yesterday. The board of directors, CEO and BCB officials were also present. Now weve to move forward match by match approach. Our next match is semifinal, which is important to win. To reach our expected destination, weve to win the semifinal first and the we could play in the final, he added. BCB president talked with the players twice before and after the lunch, where he discussed with them about the next possible opponent and its strength. Ive talked with them about the strength of the other semifinalists of the tournament. Along with them, Ive talked about their ultimate target, he said. After talking with them, I got to know that theyre very much confident of going into the final. It deems to me that well go into the final winning the semifinal, he thought. President said that he told them to have lunch with them after confirming the semifinal spot of the multinational tournament, where Bangladesh is yet to win the trophy despite being favourite tag in the past. He said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina along with ICC president will grace the final of the 16-nation tournament to be held on February 14. ICC president Zaheer Abbas will come in the day of the final to give the trophy. It turns to be a routine that ICC president will give the trophy to the winning team, Papon said, adding Prime Minister will also be present. She wanted to come in the semifinal but boys expect her in the final. BCB boss said that they have announcement for the boys but theyll not do it at the moment. Weve declaration for them but we could not announce it at the moment. It may be a pressure on them if we announce it on the stroke of the tournament, Papon said, adding If they could play in the final then they will get many more things. On the other hand, middle-order batsman Zakir Hasan, who stitched a match-winning 117-run partnership with Mehidy Hasan Miraz against Nepal in the quarterfinal, seeks to get West Indies as their semifinal opponent. We know West Indies better than Pakistan. Weve played against them. So, theyll be better opponent in the semifinal for us, said Zakir. But head coach Mizanur Rahman Babul said that they are poised to face any of them. Our players played against Sri Lanka, South Africa (home and away), India, West Indies and Afghanistan. Theyre experienced enough. They know how to handle the pressure and how to play under pressure situation, said Babul. We are ready to face the winners of Pakistan and West Indies match in the semifinal, he also said.