One day we will win World Cup: Akbar

Cricketers are passing idle time at home due to the shutdown to tackle coronavirus. At the moment, Akbar Ali, the Under-19 World Cup-winning Bangladesh captain, talked to Our Sports Correspondent Yeasin Hassan over mobile. He believes Bangladesh will win the World Cup one day.

When asked about how he is passing these days, Akbar said, “Time does want to go. I think the clock stops. These days, I get up a little bit late. After Johar prayer, I do workout. I play carom in the night and enjoyed it most with family members.”

About the winning of Under-19 World Cup, Akbar said, “The entire journey was awesome. It is very difficult to choose a special moment of it. But if have to choose, I will definitely pick the final match. I will never forget the environment and situation of the day. It was special one. When I think of the World Cup, the first thing that comes to my mind is the moment of joy with the trophy. I will never forget the day.

How has the life changed since winning the World Cup?

Akbar said, “I have not changed a bit in my personal life. May be people’s attitudes have changed a little. They are loving these days. People come from far and wide to meet me. Neighbours feel proud. Apart from this, nothing else has changed in my life. It feels good to get people’s love. It feels great.”

Surely the expectations are increasing with the love of people?

Akbar said, “Of course, but these are not in my thoughts. I don't want to carry the burden of expectation on my shoulders. I try to think less of people's expectations. I believe that if I can do my job 100% in cricket, then of course me, our team will be successful. I always try to stay within myself.”

You didn’t get much batting in the World Cup. But you batted on a day when the whole world saw your potential. How do you feel that?

The captain said, “That's what I actually say. I had a great opportunity in the World Cup final and I put it to great use. It’s nice to think I’ve become man of the match. I got a great opportunity to prove myself and I was able to do that.”

It is seen that those who do well in youth cricket move to the national team. When do you want to see yourself in the national team?

Akbar said, “We got a guideline from the management just after end of the World Cup. We are going to senior cricket and that day we were told what we should do. What challenges will come, what needs to be done to face them ... that's what we have to work on. We were on that way. A two-year training was launched for us. But coronavirus stopped all. Once the environment is back to normal we need to act quickly again.

Shakib Al Hasan said in an interview that you had shown how to win the World Cup. Naturally, winning the ODI World Cup will be easy for you. Do you believe that too?

He said, “I didn’t actually hear it. But we also have a goal to do something like that. It's not like I said it and it happened. Of course there is a desire to win the ODI World Cup. There is that belief, one day we will win the World Cup. If I can do that. There will be no better moment in life without it. There is still a lot of work to be done. If we can do the things we need to do to become world champions, we must grab it.


Dhaka/Yeasin/AKA