Alongside cricketing commitments, skipper Azizul Hakim Tamim is also looking forward to visiting the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground and hopes to meet England’s Test captain Ben Stokes during the tour.
On Saturday, a day before departure, the team held their official photoshoot in front of the BCB National Academy in Mirpur.
Later, captain Tamim and head coach Naveed Nawaz spoke to the media, sharing their thoughts ahead of the tour.
This will be Bangladesh U-19’s first visit to England since 2019. For Tamim and his teammates, it is a maiden trip to the country. When asked if he would like to meet any particular cricketer during the tour, the young skipper said he would be delighted to meet Ben Stokes.
“Of course, it’s every cricketer’s dream to play at Lord’s. If we get the opportunity, we will definitely go there. I admire many English cricketers, but meeting Ben Stokes is something I really wish for,” Tamim said.
The next edition of the ICC Under-19 World Cup will be jointly hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia next year, conditions that bear little resemblance to those in England. Still, Tamim believes the exposure gained from this tour will be invaluable for the future.
“Playing in England will give us a lot of experience. Although the World Cup isn’t scheduled there, in the future, In Sha Allah, if we get opportunities to tour again with the HP or other teams, this experience will certainly help us,” he added.
