Akbar ‘sorry’ for post-match altercation

Bangladesh Under-19 skipper apologised for the confrontation between some of his players and those of the Indian team after the young Tigers won their first ICC Under-19 World Cup at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom yesterday. 

After winning a thrilling final by three wickets, all the Bangladesh players rushed onto the field the moment Rakibul Hasan played one through midwicket and took the winning runs. However, celebrations went a bit overboard as the players of the two sides were seen exchanging heaed words and there was even some pushing and shoving on the field. The players' spat also left a Bangladesh flag damaged in the process.

The detailed report of what happened is yet to come as the ICC is understood to be looking into the matter seriously.

Bangladesh skipper Akbar Ali, who led the side with a magnificent unbeaten 43, apologised on behalf of his team.

"What happened, it should not [have] happened. I don't know what exactly happened. I didn't ask what was going on. But, you know, in the final, emotion can come out, and sometimes the boys were getting pumped, and emotions were coming through. As a youngster, it shouldn't happen. In any position, in any manner, we have to show the respect to the opponent, we should have respect for the game. Cricket is known for being a gentleman's game. So I'll say, I'll be sorry for my team," Akbar said at the post-match conference.

Akbar's counterpart Priyam Garg termed what happened in the aftermath of the game as 'dirty'.

"We were easy. We think it is part and parcel of the game - you win some and you lose some. But their reaction was dirty. I think it shouldn't have happened. But it is okay," said Garg.

Even during the game, there were some heated moments on the field as players of both sides celebrated taking wickets aggressively. While those were understandable given the intensity that a final game usually possesses, things got a bit wild at the end.