Heroic welcome as young Tigers go home

Players of the victorious Bangladesh Under-19 side, who won the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa, were received in festive fashion by people in their respective localities.

Akbar Ali and his troops left the BCB headquarters in Mirpur -- where they were given a grand reception on Wednesday after their return to the country -- and arrived at their respective hometowns yesterday. And the reception they received even in their locality was made memorable by the locals.

According to a report from our Dinajpur correspondent, the World Cup-winning skipper reached his hometown Rangpur in grand style. The wicketkeeper-batsman who landed at the Saidpur Airport at 12:30 pm, from where he was carried by a convoy of hundreds of motorcycles, jeeps, cars and microbuses to his hometown Rangpur.

Hundreds of people carrying flowers, festoons, banners and puppets of Tigers were gathered at the Public Library Ground, where a stage was set to welcome their hero. Chants like 'Akbar is great' came from the crowd as the champion skipper made his way to the stage.

Pacer Shoriful Islam also got a warm welcome when he arrived at his village Moumari in Panchagarh. After reaching the Saidpur Airport at noon he was received by his family members and started for his village via a microbus. The pacer, whose aggression during the young Tigers' final against India caught everyone's eyes, was however very humble yesterday.

The left-handed seamer however got down from the microbus about a kilometre away from home as he opted to walk the rest of the way along with hundreds of his fans, who chanted 'our pride Shoriful' on their way to his home. It was a festive occasion for the locals as they celebrated receiving their champion player with music.

Meanwhile, Hasan Murad was also welcomed with garlands and flowers when the left-arm spinner reached Cox's Bazar airport at 4:00pm yesterday, as informed by our local correspondent. The Cox's Bazar District Administration received Murad at the airport from where he, like Akbar, was taken to his home through a motorcade.

PHOTO: Kongkon Karmaker, Rajib Raihan, Mohammad Ali Jinnat, Sheikh Nasir and Quamrul Islam Rubaiyat.