The Bangladesh Cricket Board has appointed Azizul Hakim as the captain and Zawad Abrar as the vice-captain for the upcoming ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup. The squad, comprising 15 players, includes experienced members chosen based on their form. Additionally, eight standby players have been named for potential injury replacements. The team is set to kick off their campaign against India on January 17.
Bangladesh’s captain Azizul and vice-captain have demonstrated strong performances, collectively amassing over 1,000 runs in Youth ODIs post the last U19 World Cup. Noteworthy batsmen like Kalam Siddiki, with 857 runs during this period, are also part of the team to watch out for. The squad boasts a skilled bowling attack, with pacers Iqbal Hossain and Al Fahad expected to excel in the pace-friendly conditions of Zimbabwe.
In a challenging Group B that includes India, New Zealand, and the USA, Bangladesh will need to deliver their best performance. The tournament structure will see three teams from each group advancing to the Super Sixes, leading to the semi-finals and final. A total of 16 teams will participate in the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, with 41 matches scheduled throughout the event.
