|| CF Correspondent ||

The Bangladesh Under-19 National Cricket Team returned home on Wednesday afternoon after clinching the ICC U-19 World Cup title for the first time.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Nazmul Hassan along with BCB officials and high government officials received the victorious boys at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and after the receiving with flower buckets at the airport, the players were taken to Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.

Bangladesh lifted the trophy of the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2020 in South Africa beating fourth-time champions India by three wickets in the nail-biting final on Sunday. It was Bangladesh’s first World Cup title in cricket at any level. Before this triumph, Bangladesh had never advanced to the final.

The BCB officials were busy decorating the premises from Tuesday night to receive their golden boys.

In the morning Khaled Mahmud, Game Development chairman and the man known to be the architect behind this success, was received by the BCB game development officials with flowers.

The BCB game development was buzzing with crowded people that remains largely avoided in the BCB premises on normal day.

‘’You all know our honorable PM Sheikh Hasina decided to give them reception on Friday but as they are coming from a long journey it will be give by next Friday, precisely before February21,’’ State minister for Youth and Sports Jahid Hasan Russell told reporters at the Airport.

‘’We have to make sure that they are not wasted as they are our future asset,’’ he said.      

BCB decided that players will not stay long in Dhaka as they are willing to meet their families as soon as possible after their arrival, completing a long journey of a historic World Cup.

Nine players will get into the plane while four will travel with cars to reach their respective destination that is based outside Dhaka.

World Cup winning captain Akbar Ali, pacer Shoriful Islam and Md Shain Alam would be traveling to their hometown Saidpur by plane while Parvez Hossain and Shahadat Hossain will depart for Chattogram by air

Others who will board in plane are Md Hasan Morad to Cox’s Bazar, Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Sylhet, Avishek Das to Jashore and Meherob Hasan is destined for Rajshahi.

BCB arranged by road tickets for four players as Tamim and Hridoy will go to Bogura while Md Shamim Hossain and Mahmudul Hasan Joy will go to Chandpur

Akbar Ali led the Young Tigers in the World Cup. He showed immense patience in the final to seal the game. To chase 177 runs, Bangladesh had lost six wickets in 102 runs which made Bangladesh’s chance to lift the trophy narrow. But Akbar stood up and guided his team to the World Cup glory.

After creating history, Akbar said winning the U-19 World Cup is just the beginning of a long way. He said: “This is the stepping stone for our future cricket. We need to keep this momentum and hunger with us when we go to the senior side.”