Under-19 World Cup: Amid off-field drama and political tensions, India and Bangladesh ready for a feisty fixture

Nerves and tempers flap often when the sides encounter (or for that matter whenever Bangladesh encounters any of their three South Asian adversaries). But those were far more cordial times between the cricket boards and political dispensations of both nations. In recent months, their ties have frayed, the political storm spilling onto the cricket field too. The IPL contract of Bangladesh’s white-ball talisman Mustafizur Rahman was scrapped; the cricket board counteracted by refusing to play their T20 World Cup games in India. The saga is still playing out towards an uncertain climax.

In this backdrop of disharmony, the two passionate teams duel again in Bulawayo. The young cricketers, nineteen or younger, might not grasp the layers of the political intrigue, or the slippery wicket of board politics. But tempers could rage and emotions could spill onto the turf, as it was during the recent India-Pakistan youth games in Dubai. One of the over-exuberant cricketers would naively say, “It was like a war in the middle.” Invectives were exchanged. Sometimes, umpires had to step in and defuse the tension.

But skimmed from the layers of politics, it has the makings of an engrossing contest. India boasts batting depth and bowling pedigree. Some of the names have captured the collective imagination of the world. Like that of the 14-year-old wunderkind Vaibhav Suryavanshi. He is the wicket every bowler wants to collect and treasure as a sign of their competence, a nudge to their own self-belief. In an ICC video seamers of most nations have named him as the prized scalp. Bangladesh seamers have fond recent memories to fall back on. In the 2024 Asia Cup final, seamer Maruf Mridha snared him for nine runs. He is not in the squad, but a brigade of slippery seamers flag-bear the country’s recent fetish for seamers.

From a land of left-arm spinning thrift merchants, Bangladesh is now worshipping at the altar of seamers. The senior side has Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam and Nahid Rana, the latter his country’s first genuine 90mph bowler. The junior group looks to carry forth the legacy. There are five who bowl medium pace but only two specialist left-arm spinners. The excitement, though, is on seam-bowling all-rounder Rizan Hossan, an aggressive batsman and a probing bowler. His most memorable exploit was a five-for and 95 against South Africa in August last year. Later, he cracked a hundred to set up victory during a youth tour to England.

But Bangladesh’s telling flaw in recent times has been their batting. Quality batsmen have only trickled out of their stable after Shakib-al-Hasan. The brightest flicker of hope in this side is captain Azizul Hakim. The left-hander has already cracked a List A hundred, besides two half-centuries in three first-class outings. Right-handed opening batsman Zawad Abrar is another cricketer touted to graduate to the national side soon. A profusion of all-rounders ensure depth in batting, a feature of this side. “It is a big advantage… When everyone contributes, it creates a strong impact,” he said.

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Weighing in their mind would be India’s robust pace-bowling trio of Henil Patel, Deepesh Devendran and RS Ambrish, equipped to optimise even marginal assistance from the deck. India’s spin stocks might not be as vaunted as their previous avatars. In terms of skills alone, the encounter has the makings of a close affair. Weaved in the backdrop of discord, Hakim’s words about “playing with body language,” Bulawayo could feel the echoes of the geopolitical tensions in distant South Asia.

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