Bangladesh on Friday announced their squad for the ICC Under-19 World Cup, with head coach Naveed Nawaz expressing confidence in his players’ preparation ahead of the tournament, which begins on January 17 in Zimbabwe.
The squad unveiling was followed by an official photo session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on January 3, attended by players and the full coaching staff. Naveed, who guided Bangladesh to their historic Under-19 World Cup triumph in 2020, will once again lead the junior side on the global stage.
That title, won in South Africa six years ago, remains Bangladesh’s only World Cup victory at any ICC level. Several members of that championship-winning youth team have since progressed to the senior national side, a pathway Naveed hopes to repeat with the current group.
Bangladesh arrive at this World Cup after mixed recent results. They exited the Under-19 Asia Cup at the semi-final stage, having won the previous two editions. Naveed believes the team is better prepared than results alone suggest.
“It is difficult to say right now whether we can be champions,” Naveed told reporters before the team’s departure. “But the boys have worked very well before the World Cup. We have won most of our series. We did well in the Asia Cup too but were unlucky in the semi-final. In terms of skill, the boys are at a good standard. Now it is about how we perform in the tournament.”
The head coach also warned against comparing this squad with Bangladesh’s 2020 champions or directly measuring them against rivals.
“This is a different team in a different environment,” he said. “We are playing in Zimbabwe this time, not South Africa, and cricket has changed since 2020. But I am happy with our preparation. The boys have played in many conditions around the world and learned from those experiences.”
While other nations arrive with headline-grabbing individual talents, Naveed stressed that Bangladesh’s focus remains on collective performance.
“Playing as a team is the most important thing for us,” he said. “That is what has worked before. We have some exciting players, but to win a tournament everyone must contribute, whether it is with bat, ball, or even a catch or run-out.”
Bangladesh have been drawn in Group B alongside India, the United States and New Zealand. Their World Cup campaign begins against India on January 17.
Bangladesh Under-19 World Cup squad:
Azizul Hakim Tamim (captain), Jawad Abrar (vice-captain), Samiun Bashir Ratul, Sheikh Parvez Hossain Jibon, Rizan Hossain, Shahriar Al Amin, Swadhin Islam, Mohammad Abdullah, Farid Hossain Faisal, Kalam Siddiqui Olin, Rifat Beg, Sad Islam Rajin, Shahriar Ahmed, Al Fahad, Iqbal Hossain Emon.
Standby players:
Abdur Rahim, Debashish Sarkar Deba, Rafiuzzaman Rafi, Farhan Shahriar, Farzan Ahmed Alif, Sanjid Majumder, Mohammad Sabuj.
