Having tasted the sweet nectar of World Cup victory, Towhid Hridoy knows the feeling all too well. A key member of the Bangladesh Under-19 team that stunned India to clinch the 2020 World Cup in South Africa, Hridoy has now established himself as a pivotal figure in the senior national side. Currently, he stands out as one of the most in-form batsmen in Bangladesh's T20 squad.
Ahead of the T20 World Cup, Hridoy outlines Bangladesh's prospects on the global stage: "I don't want to see my name etched alongside any records this World Cup. My focus is on the team's performance. I'll strive to contribute my best from my position. I want my team to at least reach the semifinals."
Hridoy has set his sights on the semifinals for this T20 World Cup. But having brought the nation its greatest success in age-group cricket, Hridoy also aspires to win a World Cup in senior cricket: "I can still vividly recall the emotions of that (Under-19) World Cup. It's our time now to shine and bring home trophies from major tournaments like the Asia Cup and World Cup, whether we win or not. It's not just me; we all want it. If we can perform from our end, it won't be long before we achieve success."
This middle-order batsman also understands the significance of performing well on the global stage in the current context of the Bangladesh team: "Winning ICC events is crucial. Because that's when we'll be truly evaluated, just like the players from the top teams are. If we can win a couple of trophies, it will boost our mental satisfaction, self-belief and the next generation of cricketers will also be evaluated in the same way."
Several members of the Under-19 World Cup-winning squad are now regulars in the national team. Hridoy, Tanzid Hasan, Tanzim Hasan, and Shariful Islam are all part of the current World Cup squad. Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain is also from the same batch. Hridoy's faith in the abilities of his age-group teammates is evident in his words: “Those who were in the Under-19s, not just the Under-19s, but everyone in this team, seems to be important. Everyone is very aggressive. Tamim, Shakib, Rishad. Whoever is there, I think they are players who can change the complexion of a match on any given day. They have that ability. There's a determination in each of them. We will do the same thing here as we did to become champions.”
However, the gap between age-group cricket and international cricket is vast. Hridoy and Tanjid have had a year and a half to grasp this reality. Hridoy, however, claims to enjoy the challenge of international cricket: "Both are playing for the country, one at the age-group level. The other is at the elite stage. Both are proud moments. An achievement at the start of a career, to be remembered forever. There are more challenges in the national team, more competition - everything is more. That's where the challenge is, and that's where the fun is."
