When we see India, something triggers in our mind: Rakibul Hasan

Bangladesh U19’s cricketer Rakibul Hasan said that the team’s energy doubles on playing against India. Back in February, the Junior Tigers, led by Akbar Ali, beat the Boys in Blue in the U19 World Cup final in South Africa by three wickets (DL Method). It was the 17-year-old Rakibul, who played the winning shot, chipping Atharva Ankolekar for a single through deep mid-wicket.

Rakibul said that their pacers try to fire on all cylinders while locking horns against the Indian batters. In the final, the pace trio of Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Avishek Das picked up seven wickets, conceding only 99 runs in 27.2 overs.

We play with a different attitude against India: Rakibul Hasan

“We have played a lot of matches against India, tri-nation series, Asia Cup. When we see them, something triggers in our mind. Our pace bowler gets crazy when he sees India. He bowls very aggressively. And Sakib is already more aggressive. Aranya (Avishek Das) also got a chance that day,” Rakibul was quoted as saying in BDcrictime.

Hasan picked up 12 wickets in the tournament, including a fifer against South Africa. But in the final, he could only manage opposition skipper Priyam Garg’s wicket, though at an economy of 2.90. Hasan said that against India, the players get charged on their own.

“Honestly, we play with a different attitude against India. I don’t know why we try to play a little more aggressively when we play against them. So, we don’t have to trigger anyone separately. Everyone becomes aggressive on their own,” he stated.

Rakibul wasn’t a happy man after India beat them in the U19 Asia Cup final last year in Colombo. Despite bowling the opposition out for 106, Bangladesh lost the game by five runs at the RPS. That’s when Bangladesh got the motivation to go berserk at India in their next meeting.

“Our national team lost in the final of the Asia Cup because maybe luck was not with us. When we also lost, some people in the neighbourhood, friends saying neither seniors could beat India nor you guys could. After hearing these, when we played against India, these words came in our mind. If we could beat them, our fans would also be happy,” he added.