World champion young tigers returned home Wednesday afternoon with the ICC U-19 World Champions Trophy in their hands. On the return of the heroes, the nation welcomed them cordially with grand receptions at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) in presence of thousands of people amid festivity.
The young Tigers landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 4:52pm. State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russell and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Nazmul Hassan welcomed the team at airport. Later, they were escorted to the Home of Cricket, Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, at Mirpur. Thousands of people of the country with national flags and flowers in their hands were seen standing on both besides of the way to Mirpur from the airport. They were chanting ‘Bangladesh, Bangladesh’ and chanting various slogans welcoming the world champion tigers.
The Akbar Ali-led world champions were accorded a small reception at the airport lounge. A cake was cut to commemorate the occasion.
The Tigers have arrived three days after beating their Indian counterparts in the final in Potchefstroom, South Africa on Sunday. The Young Tigers boarded a flight yesterday from Johannesburg at 10 PM (South Africa Time) and following a transit, they boarded a flight for Dhaka from Dubai on Wednesday morning.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had earlier decided to keep the homecoming low-key, with a small reception planned at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, before Akbar Ali's team are taken to the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium's Academy ground for a press conference.
As per the planning, a press conference in presence of all the players was held at the BCB. The young tigers stayed at the National Academy last night and they are supposed to go back to their homes today (Thursday). The country will give a grand reception to the young tigers for the victory. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also termed it as the biggest prize ahead the Mujib Barsho celebration.
Bangladesh beat four-time champions of U-19 World Cup India in the final by three wickets on February 9 at Potchefstroom, South Africa. Captain Akbar Ali demonstrated ultimate patience to seal the game chasing 178 runs (which was later revised to 170 due to rain) after losing six wickets for 102. Akbar was later adjudged the man of the final for this match-winning knock.
It was Bangladesh’s first-ever world cup title in any level of cricket. Bangladesh never advanced to the final of any world cup before. Akbar and his team conquered the world at the first chance they got and created history.
