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Good, but could be better

LENIN GANI
Yes, Pakistan have won the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup, but in reality the tournament showed it was more than just a development-oriented competition. Maybe there were no real stars that emerged in the end, but it is hoped that the organisers of the sixth edition take pains to make it more meaningful, or in other words it becomes the breeding ground of the players who will go on to rule the world.
However, it will not be unfair to say that the fifth edition was an overwhelming success story for Bangladesh cricket in terms of its organisation and handling of the biggest international sporting event since the ICC mini World Cup in 1998.
The 16-team juvenile meet presented an interesting challenge to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on how to accommodate such a vast fixture in more than three weeks since it started on February 10. The solution was to devise a method of having matches played at four different zones of the country. So, the BCB decided to upgrade and in some cases build totally new infrastructure. The picturesque Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra and the Divisional Stadium in Chittagong were two such marvellous venues made for the occasion.
As a result of the Board's initiative of not having games all played traditionally at Dhaka, there was packed houses at each of the six venues no matter the quality of the opposition or that the home side
was not on show on that particular day.
Unfortunately, the same success couldn't inspire our young Tigers to compete in the Super League much to the dismay of the cricket-loving public. The hopes and dreams of a nation vanished after Richard McInnes' boys lost to New Zealand and India in the group stages.
They however made up for the non-appearance in the Super League by bringing glory on a Plate after handing surprise finalists Australia an eight-run defeat.
The U-19 World Cup is not only worth remembering from that point of view. There have been plenty of characters and matches to reflect on throughout the competition.
If unpredictability is the most significant aspect of the game then Nepal deserves kudos for bringing South Africa down to earth. The team from the tiny Himalayan kingdom, who has only recently taken up the sport, really rocked the juvenile World Cup boat.
But it was Zimbabwe who designed the downfall of Australia thanks to a remarkable spell of 6-31 by fast bowler Tinashe Panyangara. It was history repeated by the southern African nation since their senior team's upset of the Australians at the 1983 World Cup in England.
India were going great guns until they found their final path blocked by eventual winners Pakistan.
But India's Shikhar Dhawan stole the batting headlines with three big hundreds despite the fact his side failed to reach the final. The Delhi southpaw amassed 505 runs in seven matches before walking away with the glittering 'man of the tournament' trophy. He was also instrumental in his side's mammoth 425 against Scotland, the
second highest team total in the history of youth World Cups.
After India it was England that looked like potential champions. But their semifinal meeting with West Indies did not live up to expectation. It was a real shame when one thinks that England seemed to be the most consistent side in the showcase event. The reason for the disappointment was captain Alastair Cook himself who until that game was showing maturity beyond his years, but suddenly he lost the ability to middle the ball something that he had been doing so perfectly on way to becoming the second highest run-getter with 383 runs.
Surprisingly Sri Lanka was another team that fell away unnoticed. The only solace for them was the individual performances of Kosala Kulasekara who picked up two successive man-of-the-match awards and a match-winning hundred by wicketkeeper-batsman Upul Tharanga against South Africa at the Fatullah Stadium in Narayanganj.
The lightweights also had their day under the sun. Scotland showed they too had great resolve. Hit for sixes left, right and centre, the plucky Scots demonstrated the strength within. A few days after being knocked over by Australia for the lowest score of the meet, 22, they picked themselves up and beat Papua New Guinea.
Fellow British Isles team Ireland had a memorable time after giving West Indies a real scare in a high-scoring thriller in the group stages. But their fighting spirit deserted them in the next couple of games and so they were relegated to the lower rung the Plate competition.