BSS
  01 Jan 2024, 18:28

Mahfuzur Rabby to lead Bangladesh's quest of second U19 WC

DHAKA, Jan 1, 2024 (BSS)-The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a 15-member Under-19 team today with an aim to win the trophy for the second time.

The dream of regaining the title, which they first won in 2020, was bolstered by Bangladesh's Asia Cup triumph for the first time last year.

All of the members of the Asia Cup winning squad made it to the Under-19 World Cup team.

Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby who led the side to Asia Cup title unsurprisingly was named captain for the event, which will take place in South Africa from January 19. South Africa was the venue when Akbar Ali led Bangladesh U19 team to trophy in 2020, beating mighty India.

"After winning the trophy in 2020, we hoped to retained it in 2022 too but it eluded us. However we have now strong hopes to regain the title this year," U19 team selector Hannan Sarkar told the media at a press conference at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur today.

"We won the Asia Cup just a few days ago and it bolstered our hopes further. If we play to our potential, we can beat any team."

The Bangladesh side will have a fitness and skill camp in Dhaka from January 2-7 and depart for South Africa on January 8. The Under 19 team will be in Potchefstroom for a pre-event camp from January 9-12.

Bangladesh are slotted in Group A alongside India, Ireland and the USA. The top two teams of the group will move on to the quarterfinals of this 16-team event.

The Junior Tigers open their campaign with a match against holders India in Bloemfontein on January 20.

Bangladesh U-19 World Cup squad: Ashiqur Rahman Shibli, Jishan Alam, Chowdhury Md Rizwan, Adil Bin Siddik, Mohammad Asrafuzzaman, Ariful Islam, Shihab James, Ahrar Amin (vc), Shiekh Parvez Jibon, Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby (c), Md Rafi Uzzaman Rafi, Rohanat Doullah Borson, Iqbal Hasan Emon, Wasi Siddiquee, Maruf Mridha

Stand by: Nayeem Ahmed, Md Rizan Hossan, Ashraful Hasan, Tanvir Ahammed, Akanto Sheikh