Five U-19 cricketers including skipper Azizul Hakim Tamim and pacer Iqbal Hossain Emon, who were part the Asia Cup winning squad in the UAE, featured in the just-concluded National Cricket League T20 held in Sylhet, showcasing notable performances that caught the eyes of the franchises.
Bangladesh U-19 team head coach Naveed Nawaz spoke with The Daily Star’s Samsul Arefin Khan after the successful campaign, shared insights on their performance in the event and the plans going forward.
Bangladesh successfully defended their title, beating India by 59 runs in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Chances of Taskin Ahmed waking up super early in St Kitts, take time out of his preparation for the first ODI against West Indies to watch the final of the Under-19 Asia Cup in the UAE yesterday are quite slim.
All-rounder Azizul Hakim Tamim will lead the Bangladesh Under-19 team in the upcoming ACC U-19 Men’s Asia Cup 2024 in the UAE as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) today named a 14-member squad for the eight-team event.
"In this World Cup, it’s going to be a bit different. There are a couple of all-rounders in the team. It all depends on how these players respond against stronger teams," said Naveed.
Bangladesh men’s Under-19 team will undergo a training camp in Rajshahi on September 10-29 ahead of their upcoming home series against the UAE, which will kickstart a jam-packed period of competitive cricket for the young Tigers.
The Young Tigers will have to chase down the target set by Pakistan within 38-40 overs if they want to overtake the latter and book a place in the semifinal
Fast forward to 2024, Bangladesh are once again chasing a title-winning victory in South Africa, with emphasis on the process over the outcome of the past.
The last time Bangladesh and India faced off in a Youth ODI in South Africa was in the final of the 2020 ICC U19 World Cup
Bangladesh, however, will start their campaign on January 20 against India in Bloemfontein.
Bangladesh stunned Australia by five wickets with pacer Rohanat Doullah Borson impressing with a four-wicket haul, including a hat-trick.
Leg-spinner Wasi Siddquee was Bangladesh’s best performer with the ball with a couple of scalps.
The former opening batter of the national team is currently a selector of the under-19 team, who are in South Africa to participate in the ICC U-19 World Cup.
Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby will lead the team in the event, which will take place in South Africa from January 19
A peek at the records would show that the results at this level for Bangladesh have been very inspiring in the recent past. However, the same quality of performance and achievement has not come through to the national team.
“I’m actually a Brazil supporter. I did the Messi celebration because my teammates really enjoy that celebration,” Rabby told the media at Mirpur
Two major trophies for the Bangladesh Under-19 side in the space of almost four years is a testament to the long-term plan set by the game development committee of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
Ashiqur Rahman Shibli hit a marvellous century to power Bangladesh to 282-8 in 50 overs before the bowlers did a tremendous job to skittle out the hosts for 87 runs in 24.5 overs.
