U-19 WC squad named

Bangladesh Cricket Board's development committee member Jalal Ahmed Chowdhury (C) makes a point while announcing Standard Chartered Bank as the sponsor of the under-16 national cricket tournament for a sixth successive year at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.Photo: STAR

Keeping faith on the players who have been playing together for the last few months, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a 15-member team for the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup to be held in New Zealand in January next year.
All-rounder Mahmudul Hasan has been retained as captain while Amit Majumder is his deputy for the 16-team tournament.
Bangladesh has been drafted in Group D along with Pakistan, West Indies and Papua New Guinea. The Bangladesh Under-19s are expected to fly out on January 7 for New Zealand and before the tournament proper they will play two warm-up matches against hosts New Zealand on January 11 and against Australia on January 12.
Bangladesh will start their tournament campaign against Papua New Guinea on January 16 and their other two group matches are scheduled for January 17 against West Indies and January 20 against Pakistan.
"We have a plan to play some practice matches before the official warm-up games to accustom ourselves with the condition but it is yet to be confirmed. We are hopeful with the team because these boys have been playing together for the last seven months and playing good cricket, although our last tournament in Sri Lanka was not good one," said Sajjad Ahmed Shipon, member of the junior selection committee.
Chief selector Rafiqul Alam was also very optimistic with the team.
"I'm optimistic because this Under-19 team played good cricket in the last few months and I hope they can carry on in the tournament proper. I think it's a very balanced side," said Rafiqul.
From the last squad, which toured Sri Lanka only Immamul Hossain and Mobasher Khan failed to get a place in the final team while Soumya Sarkar is the new face in the side.

SQUAD
Mahmudul Hasan (captain), Alauddin Babu, Amit Majumder (vice-captain), Anamul Haque (wicketkeeper), Arman Badsha, Abul Hasan Raju, Kamrul Islam, Muminul Hoque Showrav, Nur Hossain, Nurul Hasan (wicketkeeper), Saikat Ali, Shabbir Rahman, Shaker Ahmed, Soumya Sarkar and Tasamul Hoque.