Bangladesh’s Under-19 cricket team will travel to the United Arab Emirates buoyed by confidence and history as they attempt to secure an unprecedented third consecutive Under-19 Asia Cup title. Having lifted the trophy in the previous two editions, the young Tigers now stand on the brink of a remarkable hat-trick that would further underline the country’s growing strength at youth level.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced a 15-member squad for the tournament, entrusting leadership responsibilities once again to Azizul Hakim. The all-rounder, who captained the side to glory in last year’s competition, will be expected to provide both tactical direction and calm under pressure as Bangladesh face a challenging group-stage campaign.
This year’s Youth Asia Cup will feature eight teams, divided evenly into two groups. The top two sides from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, ensuring that consistency across the opening matches is crucial. Bangladesh have been drawn in Group B alongside Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Nepal—three teams with contrasting styles and varying levels of recent success.
The tournament officially gets under way on 12 December, with Bangladesh beginning their title defence a day later against Afghanistan. That fixture is followed by matches against Nepal on 15 December and traditional rivals Sri Lanka on 17 December, a contest that could prove decisive in determining the group standings.
Bangladesh Group-Stage Fixtures
| Date | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 13 December | Afghanistan | UAE |
| 15 December | Nepal | UAE |
| 17 December | Sri Lanka | UAE |
Bangladesh’s recent pedigree at youth level offers strong grounds for optimism. The nation’s landmark triumph at the ICC Under-19 World Cup in 2020 marked a turning point, instilling belief that Bangladesh could consistently compete with—and defeat—the traditional powerhouses. That momentum carried into the continental stage, where the team claimed their maiden Youth Asia Cup title in 2023 under Mahfuzur Rahman’s captaincy. The success was repeated last year, with Azizul Hakim at the helm, confirming that Bangladesh’s achievements were no one-off.
The current squad blends experience from previous tournaments with promising new faces, offering depth across batting, bowling, and all-round options. Several players have impressed in domestic youth competitions, while the inclusion of a strong standby list reflects the selectors’ emphasis on competition and preparedness.
Bangladesh Under-19 Squad
| Role | Players |
|---|---|
| Squad | Azizul Hakim (Captain), Jawad Abrer, Samiun Bashir, Sheikh Parvez, Rizan Hossain, Swadhin Islam, Mohammad Abdullah, Farid Hasan, Kalam Siddiki, Iqbal Hossain, Rifat Beg, Shahriar Al Amin, Ahmed Shahriar, Saad Islam, Mohammad Sobuj |
| Standby | Rafi Uz Zaman, Sanjid Majumder, Farzan Ahmed, Farhan Shahriar, Abdur Rahim, Debashis Sarkar |
While the challenge ahead is formidable, Bangladesh’s youth side enters the tournament not merely as contenders, but as champions determined to extend an era of dominance. How they handle expectations may ultimately decide whether history is made once again in the desert.