The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has named a 15-player squad for the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2026 to be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia. The “Young Tigers” are showing good results but realising some of the examples of experience and confidence that they’ve been witnessing over the past year with a squad seasoned campaigners who ruled youth cricket in last 12 months, backed by this backing stability.
And as the tournament approaches, anticipation is high for a nation that famously won the title in 2020. This year’s side isn’t just a bunch of talented individuals but a battle-hardened one which has played more Youth ODIs than any since the last World Cup.
Azizul Hakim in the Vanguard
For this landmark occasion, Azizul Hakim has been nominated by BCB to captain the side. An allrounder with plenty of domestic experience, Hakim has been in outstanding touch. He has formed a fearsome batting pair with his deputy Zawad Abrar.
The numbers that back up their inclusion are eye-popping. Ever since the 2024 World Cup, only Hakim and Abrar are two batters who scored more than a 1,000 in world while playing Youth ODI. In calendar year 2025 only:
- Azizul Hakim: Accumulated 879 runs, with one hundred and five fifties.
- Zawad Abrar: Accumulated 977 runs, with two centuries and six fifties.
Their role to steady the innings and then explode if necessary will be crucial in the Bangladesh batting strategy on bouncy tracks of Southern Africa.
A Lethal Bowling Restraining Factor in Pace When given the Conditions
If the batting is quite good, the bowlers might just be what could give Bangladesh the ascendancy. The selectors have chosen the top three wicket-takers of 2025, so raw pace and guile are not in short supply.
Iqbal Hossain (34 wickets in 2025) and Al Fahad (33 wickets), will lead the pace battery. Fahad’s reselection is interesting as he was left out of the Under-19 Asia Cup in December after which Md Sobuj had replaced him. Given that the ball is likely to do a bit in Zimbabwe, this pair assume importance early on during the powerplay.
In the spin role, slow left-arm bowler Samiun Basir offers control. In 2025, Basir picked up 29 wickets at an economy rate of less than four runs per over.
Bangladesh U19 World Cup Squad 2026:
Azizul Hakim (c), Zawad Abrar (vc), Samiun Basir, Sheikh Paevez Jibon, Rizan Hossan, Shaharia Al Amin, Shadin Islam/ Md Abdullah, Farid Hasan Faysal,T Kalam Siddiki Aleen, Rifat Beg,Saad Islam Razin Al FahadShahriar AhmedIqbal Hossain.
The Group of Death: Bangladesh’s Path to the Final
Bangladesh is placed in Group A, already tagged as the “Group of Death” by many analysts. They will take on the reigning champions India, high in confidence after a revival from New Zealand and the USA.
The Young Tigers will play their first match against India on 17th January, 2026 at the Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo in a high-voltage encounter. This game promises to be the one where it could all begin, and as both sides are hot favourites to push through to the Super Six from their respective groups, this is likely where that charge will be led.
Can History Repeat Itself?
The 2026 side is eerily similar to the one that won this championship in preparation. Winning 17 out of 28 matches over the past year, Bangladesh is among the most “match-ready” teams in the competition.
All-rounder Rizan Hossain had a productive 2025 with the bat, contributing over 800 runs to go along with important wickets in the middle when called upon, offering some much-needed lower-middle order depth. Coached by Naveed Nawaz, who was also at the helm in 2020, the Young Tigers are on a mission to regain their position atop youth cricket.
With an eye on record-breaking openers and disciplined bowlers, Bangladesh are also no pushovers.
