A fist full of fire and faith

It was a momentous occasion for Bangladesh when a bunch of young guns clinched the U-19 World Cup in 2020, beating a strong opponent such as India who are known for producing young talents in bulk.

The joy of winning that U-19 World Cup was immense and the whole country rejoiced with droves of people celebrating their homecoming following the landmark achievement. But concerns have always been there on whether they can make their presence felt in international cricket. Some of the questions have already been answered.

As Shoriful had reminded in an interview with The Daily Star just a day after that victory, the team "stayed together as a family" and that is perhaps the biggest indicator of why they had done so well. A similar mentality was flowing through them, a similar aggression based on cricketing senses.

The likes of Shoriful already staked his claim as one of the front-line pacers, having debuted in 2021, and Tawhid Hridoy, having debuted only this year, looks well-honed to serve the Tigers with a number four berth in the batting lineup.

Shamim Hossain had been in and out of the squad and yet to get a strong footing but, following debut in 2021, he finally was able to do enough domestically to make the Asia Cup side.

In fact, six players that also includes opener Parvez Hossain Emon, pacer Mrittunjoy Chowdhury and batter Mahmudul Hasan Joy have made the Tigers' lineup in one format or the other so far. Wicket-keeper batter Akbar Ali, who led the side with great determination, along with spinner Rakibul Hasan and top-order batter Shahadat Hossain Dipu are waiting in the wings with the latter having recently made the Test squad against Afghanistan.

The two newcomers Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Tanzim Hasan Sakib, yet to make their debuts, only got into the Asia Cup following injuries to opener Tamim Iqbal and pacer Ebadot Hossain. But it is the assuredness portrayed by players from that bunch that have led the national team to pick them up during such a vital period with the World Cup just around the corner.

A look at other national teams suggest that they have not had players from the 2020 U-19 World Cup appear for the national team to the extent it is applicable for Bangladesh. Yashasvi Jaiswal, the highest run-getter in that tournament, made his debut for India Test side this year while Ravi Bishnoi, the top wicket-taker of that same tournament, debuted for the senior side in 2022 but has not played since.

The importance of not one or two individuals coming through but a bunch coming together cannot be overemphasised. Shoriful reminds of the faith the bunch had while playing that final.

"When we won that World Cup, from the beginning of the tournament, our plan was to go match by match. Up to the semis that remained but when we made the final, there was some kind of determination that since we didn't know if we would play for the U-19s again and since we made the final, we had to snatch the win.

"Each and every of our players had that fire within them till the end that we will do it. That faith was a big thing," Shoriful told this reporter in an interview after the Ireland series.

With the likes of Hridoy and Shamim, Shoriful now finds familiar comrades, who achieved the incredible feat in 2020, beside him in the senior side.

"Obviously, everyone is doing well. We have that faith that we will do something good at the World Cup," he had added regarding the players from that batch who came to the national team.

With Tanzid and Sakib now also in, the number from that stands at five. Five make a fist and they know they will always have that World Cup victory from 2020. The aggression, the mentality and faith can now go a long way to ushering them towards the next big prize.