Preview: Bangladesh U19s v Canada U19s

With the tournament only into its third day, Bangladesh have a chance to become the first team to book their place in the knockouts with victory over Canada; if they do so, and England fail to beat Namibia, they’ll be sure of a top-two finish in Group C. In their way are Canada, playing their first game of the competition, who will be desperate to make a winning start.

Form guide

Bangladesh’s opening game victory against Namibia will have come as something of a relief, considering they’d lost their warm-up game against Afghanistan, and in the semi-final of the U19 Asia Cup. But with both those losses close-run things, and having qualified for that semi-final in the first place, Bangladesh may well be happy with where their game is at.

Canada eased past Kenya in their warm-up by eight wickets, having qualified for this tournament ahead of Bermuda and USA, separated from the latter by net run rate.

Players to watch

Pinak Ghosh (Ban)

Bangladesh’s opener was the only member of their top three not to pass fifty during their opening game against Namibia, but he looked in excellent touch, and his 26 gave his side vital early momentum. He will want much more than a start against Canada, especially considering the match is unlikely to be shortened by rain.

Rommel Shahzad (Can)

Canada had to overcome USA to in the final game of the ICC Americas Under 19 World Cup Qualifier to top the group and make it to this tournament, and that they did so was largely down to Rommel Shahzad, with the offspinner taking 6/28 to restrict their opponents, who had been unbeaten in the competition, to 132. If he can find a way to succeed against a team who grow up playing spin bowling, Canada could be in with a chance.

World Cup history

This is the 11th appearance at the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup for Bangladesh, who made their tournament debut 20 years ago in South Africa. Enamul Haque holds the tournament record for the most wickets in a single edition of the competition, having taken 22 wickets on home soil in 2004. Bangladesh also produced the top run scorer in 2012 (Anamul Haque, 365 runs) and 2014 (Shadman Islam, 406 runs). They hosted the last edition, in which they achieved their best result of third place.

This is Canada’s sixth appearance at the Under 19 Cricket World Cup. They have never made the quarter finals, with a best finish of 11th in 2010, and second-from-last-place finishes every other time. They did manage to tie with Bangladesh in their very first tournament, and beat Zimbabwe during the 2010 competition.

Head to head

Bangladesh and Canada have faced off three times at the Under 19 Cricket World Cup, with the gap between the teams widening each time. Their most recent game, in 2014, was won convincingly by Bangladesh, as they chased down 76 within 14 overs with nine wickets in hand. Before that in 2004 Canada succumbed by 4 wickets. Their first World Cup clash in 2002 was a thrilling tie, Canada’s captain dragging his side to 213/9 with 82 not out.

Forecast

Sunday at Lincoln was an absolutely glorious day, with barely a cloud in the sky throughout South Africa's fixture against Kenya. Monday is likely to see more of the same, if not quite reaching the temperatures that we saw on the weekend.

Squads

**Bangladesh:**Saif Hassan (C), Afif Hossain, Aminul Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Mohammad Naim, Mohammad Rakib, Nayeem Hasan, Pinak Ghosh, Qazi Onik, Robiul Hoque, Roni Hossen, Shakil Hossain, Tipu Sultan, Towhid Hridoy

**Canada:**Arslan Khan (C), Akash Gill, Ashtan Deosammy, Emanuel Khokhar, Kavian Naress, Kevin Singh, Pranav Sharma, Randhir Sandhu, Krishen Samuel, Faisal Jamkhandi, Arshdeep Dhaliwal, Rishiv Joshi, Aran Pathmanathan, Pieter Pretorius, Rommel Shazad