ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup Bangladesh 2004

ICC releases

Dhaka, 15 February 2004  

U/19 Cricketers to support HIV/AIDS awareness  

As part of international cricket¹s commitment to raising awareness of HIV/AIDS, players at the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup Bangladesh 2004 will be wearing red ribbons as a mark of solidarity with those living with HIV/AIDS.  

In all of the tournament¹s televised matches - starting with the match between India and Scotland tomorrow ­ players will wear red ribbons.  

The aim of the initiative is to raise the level of awareness about the impact of the epidemic among the general public, especially the young, as well as with leaders and opinion-makers in cricket-playing countries.  

Nearly half the young people in the world have not even heard of HIV/AIDS. By raising awareness, the silence is broken and stigma and discrimination reduced. This will hopefully encourage young people to learn about HIV/AIDS and protect themselves.  

This is part of a joint campaign between the International Cricket Council and the Joint United Nations AIDS Programme (UNAIDS) to ŒRun Out AIDS¹ that was launched in September 2003.     

In the time it takes to play a One Day International match, 6000 young people will become infected with HIV. Over the course of a Test match, 30,000 young boys and girls across the world will become infected with HIV.  

More than 20 million people have already died since the first clinical evidence of the disease was reported in 1981.

  The realities of today¹s global epidemic are graver than even the worst-case predictions of 10 years ago. AIDS killed more than three million people in 2003 and an estimated five million more became infected ‹ bringing to some 40 million the number currently living with HIV/AIDS.   Of these, nearly 12.5 million live in countries that played in the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2003. India and South Africa alone have nearly nine million people infected with HIV.   

In the West Indies, HIV is spreading rapidly and despite current low levels of infection in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the potential for the spread of HIV is high.   In the UK, Australia and New Zealand, current trends indicate a rise in sexually transmitted infections and in unsafe sex practices, indicating the need for renewed prevention efforts.  

ICC President Ehsan Mani and ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed have both played a prominent role since the partnership was launched, visiting HIV/AIDS projects in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India and Jamaica and raising world attention on the issue.     "The threat of HIV/AIDS in many of the countries in which cricket is played is acute and it is in keeping with the spirit of cricket that the ICC exercises this social responsibility," said Mr Mani.  

Since the launch of the partnership, many cricket teams and players have offered their support. The throwing of the toss by a HIV Positive person at the start of New Zealand¹s first Test in India in October 2003 was hailed as a positive leap in India¹s prevention efforts and a vital step in reducing stigma.     On the occasion of World AIDS Day 2003, the national cricket teams of Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, England, Zimbabwe and the West Indies wore red ribbons during their matches.

  The UNAIDS- ICC partnership to ŒRun Out AIDS¹ is the first major partnership between UNAIDS and an international sports body.

 Dhaka, 15 February 2004    

New Zealand edge past Bangladesh in thriller  

New Zealand defeated Bangladesh at the Bangabandhu National Stadium with two wickets and four balls to spare on the opening matchday of the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup Bangladesh 2004.   New Zealand all rounder Sam McKay (40 not out) kept his cool to hit the winning runs off the second ball of the final over in front of a crowd of over 15,000.   McKay¹s decisive innings earned him the Man of the Match Award nominated by ICC Match Referee Chris Broad.  

"I have never played in front of a crowd of more than about 500 before so this was very exciting," said McKay.   "It was a new experience for me, I knew I had to stay calm as we had plenty of overs to play with and I found it a lot of fun."   It was McKay¹s sixth wicket partnership with Anton Devcich (36) that turned the match decisively in New Zealand¹s favour after they had stuttered to 118 for 6 in pursuit of 203 for victory.  

Bangladesh were put into bat and progressed steadily to 170 for 5 with opener Nafees Iqbal leading the way with 67 runs off 92 balls. With 15 overs to go the home side looked set to post a big target but fast bowlers Te Ahu Davis and Craig Smith returned to the New Zealand attack to skittle out the five remaining wickets for only 32 runs.  

Full house see Sri Lanka win  

Sri Lanka¹s batsmen made hard work of reaching a low Zimbabwe target with two wickets to spare in front of a full house in Bogra.  

The run rate was never going to be a problem for Sri Lanka as they chased Zimbabwe¹s modest 161 all out. But early wickets kept Zimbabwe in contention until an 83-run sixth wicket partnership between Gihan de Silva (33) and Chamith Kulasekara (37 not out) turned the match in Sri Lanka¹s favour.   Over 15,000 spectators packed out the stands for first ever official international match at the Bogra District Stadium.  

Zimbabwe were put into bat by Sri Lanka and were soon struggling at 10 for 3. A spirited innings from Sean Williams (47 off 110 balls) provided the foundation of Zimbabwe¹s fightback but aside from a 41-run contribution from Colin de Grandhomme (41), support was lacking.  

Sri Lanka¹s most destructive bowler was captain Parveez Mahroof who took four wickets for 28 runs in his 9.3 overs.  

"We played well as a team and our bowling was good," said Mahroof.   "We did enough to win this match and hopefully we will still be winning come the final on 5 March."  

Zimbabwe¹s captain Tinotenda Mawoyo was disappointed with the defeat.   "All of our players tried their best but we gave away too many easy runs to win the match, hopefully we can still make the Super League," said Mawoyo.  

Man of the match was Kulasekara.  

England comfortably overcome Nepal  

England beat Nepal at the M.A. Aziz Stadium in Chittagong by eight wickets with seven overs to spare.  

After winning the toss and electing to bat, a battling 82 from Sarad Vesawakar helped Nepal post a competitive 191 for 8 in 50 overs. All six of England¹s bowlers picked up wickets with Samit Patel (1/15 from 10 overs) the most economical.  

In reply England lost captain Alastair Cook with the score on 13 but lost only one further wicket as Ravinder Bopara (59), Steven Davis (78 not out) and Patel (35 not out) all contributed a comfortable victory.  

Davis was named Man of the Match by ICC Match Referee Roshan Mahanama.  

Pakistan make light work of PNG  

Pakistan beat Papua New Guinea by eight wickets after bowling the Pacific islanders out for 60 runs at the Khulna Divisional Stadium.

  It took Pakistan only 14.5 overs to reach their modest target ­ exactly three overs less than the PNG innings ­ in front of a crowd of over 6,000.  

The damage was done by opening bowlers Riaz Afridi (4/15) and Wahab Riaz (2/27) with Monsoor Amzad wrapping up the innings with three wickets in only 11 balls.