The Bangladesh Under-19 side’s clinching of two major trophies in nearly four years underscores the success of the long-term strategy devised by the game development committee of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

Following their triumph at the youth World Cup in 2020, the latest victory for the Under-19 squad occurred as they secured their inaugural Asia Cup title with an impressive 195-run triumph over hosts UAE in Dubai.

Under the guidance of former Bangladesh captain Khaled Mahmud Sujon, the game development committee executed an extensive campaign for the current Under-19 cricketers. The campaign emphasized game awareness through a significant number of matches played over the past year and a half.

Similar to the previous Under-19 World Cup-winning team, the current squad engaged in around 30 matches, both at home and away, as part of their preparation for the Asia Cup and the upcoming ICC Under-19 World Cup in South Africa scheduled for January next year.

Expressing his satisfaction, Mahmud stated,

“I was a bit irritated over the fact that we were not able to perform as a team before the Asia Cup. But I must say the boys managed to click at the right time, and with the upcoming World Cup in January [2024], this Asia Cup win will surely give confidence to the boys.”

Highlighting the role of age-level selectors, Mahmud credited their efforts in scouting players from the grassroots. He emphasized the importance of ensuring the players had enough match preparation to develop game sense.

The young Tigers displayed a collective team effort across all three departments throughout the tournament, finishing as unbeaten champions. The victory against a strong Indian side in the semifinal showcased the mental strength of the cricketers in high-pressure situations.

Opener Ashiqur Rahman Shibly emerged as the standout performer, scoring two centuries, including a match-winning 129 in the final. Shibly was awarded to the player of the tournament.

Speaking about Shibly, Mahmud praised his hard work and composure, stating,

“His ability to face the new ball makes him a solid opener, and he knows how to convert those fifties into hundreds.”

Pacers Maruf Mridha, Rohanat Doullah Borson, and leg-spinner Wasi Siddique also earned praise for their performances. Mahmud highlighted the board’s emphasis on developing leg-spinners, with Wasi identified as a promising prospect.

Expressing optimism about the future, Mahmud stated:

“I am confident we can overcome the shortage of leg-spinners for the senior side in the coming days.”

He also predicted that several players from this squad would follow in the footsteps of the World Cup-winning Under-19 members, representing the national side in the future.