Bangladesh’s cricket landscape is witnessing a seamless transition as several members of the victorious Under-19 World Cup-winning squad of 2020 make their presence felt in the senior national team’s 17-member Asia Cup 2023 squad. The progress of these young talents has delighted Naved Newaz, the coach who guided them to their Under-19 World Cup triumph.
Initially, four players from the triumphant Under-19 squad were named in the Asia Cup lineup, including Tawhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Shoriful Islam, and uncapped Tanzid Hasan Tamim. This number swelled to five with the inclusion of pace bowling all-rounder Tanzim Hasan Sakib, stepping in for the injured Ebadot Hossain.
Of these rising stars, Shoriful Islam and Tawhid Hridoy have already showcased their potential. Hridoy has made a strong impact at the number four position in both white-ball formats, while Shamim Hossain, who was among the early selections for the T20I side from the World Cup-winning batch, has successfully made a comeback to the national team.
Tanzid Hasan Tamim’s injury paved the way for uncapped Tanzim Hasan Sakib to demonstrate his prowess. The youngster’s emergence as a potential pace bowling all-rounder adds to Bangladesh’s depth.
Naved Newaz, now serving as an assistant coach in Sri Lanka, expressed his contentment in witnessing his mentees’ growth. He emphasized that while winning the Under-19 World Cup was significant, the challenges of international cricket still lie ahead for these young talents. He praised their progress and optimism in handling the pressures of international cricket.
This emerging generation follows in the footsteps of Bangladesh’s successful Under-19 batch of 2005, which produced players like Tamim Iqbal, Shakib al Hasan, and Mushfiqur Rahim. With their balanced mental approach and the financial support provided by the Bangladesh Cricket Board, these young talents are making a mark not just domestically, but also in the senior national team. Their journey from promising juniors to dependable performers illustrates the positive direction in which Bangladesh cricket is headed.
