Fresh U-19s for 2020 World Cup

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will kick-off their preparations for the next ICC Under-19 World Cup to be held in South Africa in 2020 with a fresh batch of teenage cricketers.

The board named 30 cricketers from different regions, including eight from BKSP, in the preliminary squad for a three-week under-19s skills camp, under the guidance of local coach Mizanur Rahman, to be held at the BKSP.

"We are going to start long term preparations with all new faces. We have two to three players from the last squad on hand but at this moment we are not thinking about them. We will get enough time to shape a good team before the 2020 World Cup in South Africa," informed junior team selector Sajjad Ahmed.

"All the players played at different age-level tournaments and there are a lot of good players. If we can nurse them properly then we will get some future cricketers like on previous occasions," he added.

After finishing third in the 2016 Under-19 World Cup at home -- their best result in the tournament -- the Bangladesh Under-19 team finished sixth in the last edition of the biennial tournament in New Zealand earlier this year, which raised many questions about the team's inadequate preparation.

"This time there is long term planning. We are going to play a number of home and away series this year and next year, so things will be different this time around. Our main target is to produce some quality players for the country and of course the World Cup is a big mission for us," said former national cricketer Sajjad.

The junior Tigers' first assignment will be the next Asia Cup, to be held in the United Arab Emirates from September this year.

PRELIMINARY SQUAD

Openers: Prantik Nawrose, Sajid Hasan, Mohammad Tahsin and Pritom Kumar.

Middle orders: Alvi Haque, Parvez Hossain Emon, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Amite Hasan, Shamim Patwary, Fazly Rabbi, Sajjad Shariar, Sifat Sadik Khan and Abdullah Al Mamun.

Spinners: Mehedi Hasan, Rakibul Hasan, Rakibul Atik, Minhazur Rahman, Naim Hasan Sakib and Mujakkir Hussain.

All-rounders: Shahdat Hossain Dipu, Anamul Kabir, Rishad Hossain, Mrittunjoy Chowdhury, Avishek Das Aronno, Tanzil Hossain Sakib.

Pacers: Ruyel Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Asadullah Hill Galib, Shahin Alamand Mehedi Hasan.