A confident Bangladesh Under-19s take on Sri Lanka in the second semifinal of the Under-19s Asia Cup today at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

With a fresh group of players, Bangladesh went to take part in the competition to gain some experience but the successes against Afghanistan and Singapore and the close defeat against Pakistan in the group stage provided enough confidence to raise expectations.

“The boys are now very much confident after their performances in the group stage and the team also took a good shape. We believe that this team has the ability to overcome the semifinal hurdle,” Ehsanul Haque, the junior team selector who is travelling with the team, said over phone yesterday.

“We were in a winning position against Pakistan but unfortunately we lost the match in the last over, but the match gave the boys enough confidence. They are gelling as a team. Although Sri Lanka will play in their home conditions we believe that we can beat them. The boys practised well today,” he added.

Saif Hasan has so far led the team from the front to ensure that they finish as group champions.

Meanwhile, in the first semifinal India outclassed Afghanistan to reach the final yesterday. They beat Afghanistan by 77 runs.