ACC Emerging Teams Cup underway: Bangladesh and Afghanistan win on opening day

The Bangladesh U-23 team and Afghanistan won their respective matches on the opening day of the ACC Emerging Teams Cup, which began in Singapore. Bangladesh U-23 beat Singapore by eight wickets with 140 balls remaining. In a 50-over match, Singapore won the toss and decided to bat. Singapore made 121 runs in 47.1 overs with the help of middle order batsman AE Param’s 37 runs. The Bangladesh U-23 team achieved the target in 26.4 overs with the loss of two wickets and won the match by eight wickets. Noor Hossain (Bangladesh Under-23s) was declared the man of the match for his excellent bowling performance grabbing four wickets in his 10ten overs at an economy rate of 2.5 per over.

Meanwhile in the second match of the day, Afghanistan beat Nepal by three runs (D/L method). Nepal won the toss and decided to field. Afghanistan scored 169 in their 50 overs. Due to bad light and rain, the target was modified to 161 runs in 46 overs for Nepal. But Nepal were all out in 45.3 ovesr and only managed to score 157 runs. B Regmi (Nepal) was declared Man of the Match for his excellent bowling performance, grabbing five wickets at an economy rate of 3.1 runs per over.

The ACC Emerging Teams Cup has been created by the Asian Cricket Council for the specific cause of developing the talents of the most prominent young cricketers of Asia. The event, the inaugural edition of which is being held in Singapore, follows on from the Council’s highly successful U-19 Asia Cup series. The Emerging Teams Cup is directed at promoting the careers of the cricketers in the Test-playing countries and the leading Associate nations of Asia.

India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will feature their U-23 teams while other countries (Afghanistan, Nepal, UAE & Singapore) will have their national team participating in the cup. India U-23 will face Pakistan U-23 while Bangladesh U-23 will play Sri Lanka U-23 on the second day of the cup in Singapore.

India U23 is pitted in group A with Pakistan U23, Afghanistan and Nepal while Srilanka U23, Bangladesh U23, UAE and Singapore are in Group B.