Even as defending champions, Nawaz brushed aside any talk of pressure, saying he hopes expectations don’t weigh on his players. The Sri Lankan coach, who guided Bangladesh to their maiden U-19 World Cup title, is now targeting another Asia Cup triumph.
When asked about expectation levels, Naveed replied, "I hope not." He said his message to the squad is straightforward: "I was just telling my boys… it's going to be just another tournament, and it all depends on which team plays better on the day."
With Bangladesh seeking a championship hat-trick after winning the 2023 and 2024 editions in the Gulf, Nawaz stressed teamwork and mindset.
“We were discussing the processes we have put in place. The main thing is to enjoy everything during the Asia Cup and work together as a team. Make sure no one is left alone, enjoy each other's success, and when pressure comes, we should be able to come out on top," he added.
Captain Azizul Hakim echoed the confidence, saying, "We have played 30-plus matches this year with many series. So our players have experience, and even those who played the last World Cup, such as [Sheikh Parvez] Jibon and [Iqbal Hossain] Emon, are with us, so let's see."
Squad:
Azizul Hakim Tamim (Captain), Zawad Abrar (Vice-Captain), Samiun Basir Ratul, Sheikh Paevej Jibon, Rizan Hossan, Shadin Islam, Md Abdullah, Farid Hasan Faysal, Kalam Siddiki Aleen, Iqbal Hossain Emon, Rifat Beg, Shahriar Al Amin, Ahmed Shahriar, Saad Islam Razin, Md Shabuj.
Standby players: Rafi Uzzaman Rafi, Sanjid Mozumder, Farzan Ahmed Alif, Farhan Shahriar, Abdur Rahim, Debasish Sarkar Deba.
