DHAKA, Dec 18, 2023 (BSS)-A successful execution of a six-month plan led
Bangladesh Under-19 to clinch the coveted Asia Cup title, said captain
Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby.

The Junior Tigers crushed United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 195 runs in the final
to secure their first Asian title as an unbeaten champion. On the way to move
to the final they beat UAE, Japan and then Sri Lanka convincingly in the
group phase before beating the tournament's most successful team India by
four wickets in the semifinal.

UAE might be a weaker opponent on paper but they played excellent cricket to
move to the final. Despite being beaten by Bangladesh in the group phase,
they beat Sri Lanka and Japan in the group phase and then stunned Pakistan in
the semifinal.

But against a spirited Bangladesh, they couldn't put up minimum resistance.

"With an aim to secure the title we went to play the Asia Cup but we took it
as match by match," said Rabby after arriving in the country from UAE today
to a hero's welcome.

"We have to give the due credit to our coaches and the team management.
Everyone was desperate to win the title. Cricketers executed the plan in the
ground. We have devised a plan six months ago for this tournament. From that
time, we dreamt of winning the title," he added without elaborating their
plan.

Ahead of the tournament, Bangladesh played a tournament in India, featuring
India A team, B team and England Under-19 team but they didn't do quite well
in that tournament.

Despite that hiccup, they were not mentally shattered as they learnt from
their mistakes and showed the unwavering resolve, required to win a title.
Rabby in fact was given captaincy, replacing Ahrar Amin after that
tournament.

The Under-19 team clinched a World Cup, led by Akbar Ali in 2020. Most of the
players of that team have already made it to the national team.

Rabby said their prime target is to win the Under-19 World Cup, which will be
held in South Africa next year.

"All of our players have been in good touch. The Asia Cup victory obviously
boosted us to win the World Cup. Hopefully we'll translate this performance
into the World Cup to make the nation proud again," he remarked.

Opener Ashiqur Rahman Shibly was instrumental in clinching the title, scoring
tournament's highest 378 runs in five matches. He hit two centuries including
one in final and two half-centuries. Only against India, he failed to reach
fifty. He was however adjudged man of the series.

Shibly who idolizes Indian great Virat Kohli, said he played as per match
situation and tried his best to contribute for the team.

"I have no mindset that I have to be the best scorer of the tournament. I
tried to play as the team demands from me," he said.

"It's obviously a good feeling that the team became champions and I scored
highest runs. Now our target is to do well in World Cup. This is the only
target now. I am not thinking about national team or anything else at this
moment," he added.