Nepal want to repeat the result of last eight years while Malaysia want to turn the table around for the revenge as the two team meet in the final of the ACC U-19 Cup cricket tournament for the third consecutive time.
Historically, Nepal had played Malaysia in all of last four U-19 and never lost. In the very first international match of the level, Nepal beat Malaysia by 16 runs in 1997, and then again by one wicket in the semifinal of 1999 to qualify for the Youth World Cup.
In 2001 final at Kathmandu, current captain Kaniska Chaugai scored unbeaten 70 runs for a seven wicket victory while in 2003, Nepal lift the title by defeating Malaysia by 30 runs in 25-over match. Sarad Veswakar, who had scored 11*, 68 and 47* this time, scored half-century in the Karachi final.
“We had upper hand in past, but I don’t believe in past records,” Nepali coach Roy Dias said. “Its the last and very important match and I want my players to give not 100 percent but 200 percent.”
“We have a very good chance as Nepal is under pressure due to home crowd and press,” Malaysia coach John Bailey said. “We want to turn around the history.”
Both the teams rested on Friday and had devised no special plan for the final. “We should first look at pitch and conditions tomorrow,” Dias said while adding that toss will be vital if the cloudy conditions as in the semifinal prevailed.
And the plans for the final is as usual the simplest for Dias. “I don’t say we are strong team but everybody is chipping in,” Dias said. “I want to continue them same, do the basics and keep it simple.”
Nepal will stick with the same side for the final. “Its too late now to try new combinations,” Dias said. “We should got with the winning combination.”
Both coaches appreciated the opponents strength. “Malaysia is strong, its one of the best sides in the event,” Dias said.
“Nepal are good side, they are very organized,” Bailey said.
And, no wonder, both coaches wanted victory. “We are here to win the trophy, and we have on our path,” Bailey said. “Success is in front of us.”
“Victory is very important for players and Nepal because there is only one spot for the Youth World Cup,” Dias said.