Bangladesh’s U19 team continues its stellar run in the tournament, with skipper Azizul Hakim Tamim leading from the front both as a batsman and a captain. In the semi-final clash against Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium, Azizul’s all-round leadership and the team’s fiery pace attack secured a dominant win. The confident captain is now focused on delivering another memorable performance in the final against India.

Bangladesh’s pace attack dismantled Pakistan early, setting the stage for a comprehensive victory. Maruf Mridha struck twice with the new ball, dismissing Pakistan’s danger men Shahzaib Khan (two centuries in earlier matches) and Usman Khan for ducks. Iqbal Hossain Imon claimed four wickets, while Al Fahad and Rizwan Hossain contributed with tight spells. Rizwan was particularly economical, conceding just 13 runs in his 8 overs. Pakistan’s innings folded for a modest 116 runs.

Azizul praised his bowlers for executing the game plan perfectly: "We won the match today, and it feels great. Winning the toss was crucial, and everything went in our favor. The bowlers did a fantastic job—Imon, Maruf, Fahad, and Rizwan bowled exceptionally well. That’s why we were able to restrict them to 116 runs."

He added: "The message was clear: stick to our plans, minimize mistakes, and we did just that."

Although chasing 117 runs seemed straightforward, Pakistan’s bowlers kept Bangladesh under pressure early on, conceding just four runs in the first five overs and taking two quick wickets. However, Azizul stepped in at No. 3, playing a captain’s knock. His unbeaten 61 off 42 balls guided Bangladesh to a comfortable victory with overs to spare.

Azizul’s consistency has been a highlight of the tournament. After scoring a century against Afghanistan in the opening match—a historic feat as the first-ever century by a Bangladeshi in U19 ODIs—he followed up with a match-winning fifty against Nepal. Despite a low score against Sri Lanka, he bounced back in style against Pakistan.

The skipper remained humble and focused on the team’s success: "The innings I played today feels good because it was for the team, for the country. Winning for Bangladesh makes me very happy."

Bangladesh, the defending champions, are now one step away from retaining the title. They face arch-rivals India in the final on Sunday. Azizul expressed confidence and determination ahead of the big match:

"In the final, we will give our best effort, with all our strength. We’ll try to deliver our best performance. Please keep us in your prayers and support us."

Iqbal Hossain Emon, who claimed four wickets and earned the Player of the Match award, shared his excitement and aspirations for the final: "The wicket today was very supportive for pace bowling. I stuck to my line and length and succeeded. Becoming Man of the Match feels amazing. My performance was crucial for the team."

Looking ahead, he added: "For the final, I don’t have any big plans. I’ll focus on bowling well in my areas. That’s all."