Bangladesh have resisted the temptation to tinker, naming a near-identical group for this month’s ICC Under-19 World Cup. Opener-turned-skipper Azizul Hakim continues at the helm, with fellow run-maker Zawad Abrar confirmed as vice-captain. The only alteration from December’s Asia Cup line-up is the return of quick Al Fahad, who replaces fellow seamer Md Sobuj.
“Most of us have been on the road together for two years, so the dressing-room feels settled,” Hakim said shortly after the squad was released. Head coach Hannan Sarkar echoed the theme of continuity: “Consistency in selection gives young players confidence. They know one bad game won’t see them out of the door.”
The statistics back up the selectors’ faith. Hakim and Abrar are the only Bangladesh batters to have topped 1,000 Youth ODI runs since the last World Cup in 2024. With Rizan Hossan, Kalam Siddiki and left-hander Rifat Beg also in the top order, Bangladesh appear as well-stocked with batters as at any time in recent memory.
The bowling, too, looks familiar. Right-armers Iqbal Hossain and Al Fahad, along with left-arm spinner Samiun Basir, have claimed more wickets than any other Bangladesh bowlers in this age group over the same period. Fahad’s extra pace was missed during the Asia Cup defeat by India and should add bite on the quicker Harare and Windhoek surfaces. “Al’s heavy length makes life awkward even for set batters,” Basir noted in a recent team-camp media session.
Bangladesh have been drawn in a demanding Group B alongside India, New Zealand and the USA. The top three nations in each of the four groups progress to the Super Sixes, from which the semi-finalists will emerge. Former national selector Habibul Bashar summed up the challenge: “If you want to win a World Cup, you have to beat India at some stage; facing them early might not be the worst thing.”
The squad flies out on Sunday night, with matches scheduled in Harare, Bulawayo and Windhoek. Bangladesh supporters will remember the class of 2020 lifting the trophy in Potchefstroom. Replicating that feat will require what Sarkar calls “our absolute A-game”, but this largely settled side believes it has the tools to compete.
Bangladesh squad: Azizul Hakim (capt), Zawad Abrar, Samiun Basir, Sheikh Paevez, Rizan Hossan, Shaharia Al Amin, Shadin Islam, Md Abdullah, Farid Hasan, Kalam Siddiki, Rifat Beg, Saad Islam, Al Fahad, Shahriar Ahmed, Iqbal Hossain
