Plenty in the pipeline

In the build-up to the ICC Under-19 World Cup, there were high hopes for Bangladesh. Not only were they going to have the advantage of being hosts, they had played and excelled in the numerous series they embarked upon before the tournament itself.

Those factors, logically so, gave rise to high expectations and although they did not make it to the final, their best-ever finish -- they became third after a hard-fought win against Sri Lanka yesterday -- showed that there are many up-and-coming cricketers in the pipeline for the Tigers.

And none of the youngsters seem more impressive than their captain Mehedi Hasan Miraz. With 242 runs in the tournament, the 18-year-old all-rounder was Bangladesh's second-best scorer, behind left-handed Nazmul Hossain's 259. However, Miraz's consistency was admirable, as he scored four half-centuries and with the ball he picked up 12 wickets.

The most striking thing about the stylish right-hander-- and indeed the whole team -- was the way they handled pressure. That was mainly down to Mehedi's rock-solid presence in the middle. The ever-smiling off-spinner, who never seemed to have a tinge of apprehension on his face while encountering the press, might be a good addition in the Tigers' future line-up especially for his additional exploit as an off-break bowler.  

And it doesn't just end there. Batsmen like Zakir Hasan and Saif Hasan have shown glimpses that suggest that these players could well represent the national side in the longer version in the near future. The resilience and patience that these two batsmen had shown can be nurtured for the better.

The only weakness of this vibrant side is quality pace. Although Mohammad Saifuddin impressed with his scorching yorkers, there is still plenty of room to improve here.  Given the conditions in Bangladesh where spin is the main threat, they were bound to be vulnerable in this department. A few loose strokes didn't help their cause, but it would be folly to crucify a bunch of 17-18 year-olds for being a bit compulsive.

What we can do is commend them on the fact that their concentration scarcely ever waned and for carrying on with the senior side's fearless brand of cricket in one-day format.

While they will be filled with regret at not making it all the way, their performances in the tournament captured the imagination of most of the visiting former cricket-greats. Although they ended up as the third best team in world's youth jamboree, their performance indicates that the future is bright for Bangladesh cricket. They have just been graduated as one of the best students, what they need now is extreme care from the establishment so that their talents are not wasted.