The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

A 14-member of Bangladesh U-19 cricket team, led by Suhrawardy Shuvo, left here on Monday for South Africa take part in a triangular four-match one-day series.

During the two-week tour in South Africa, the U-19 team will play a three-day warm-up match against the hosts on December 27-29 before the tri-nation series with India and hosts South Africa.

Bangladesh youth team will play the first one-day match *against South Africa U-19 team on January 1, the 2nd against India U-19 team on Jan 3, the 3rd against the hosts on Jan 4, and the 4th and last match against India U-19 team on Jan 6.

Talking to the reporters prior to the team's departure, skipper Suhrawardy Shuvo said they are taking the series as a preparation ahead of the ICC U-19 World Cup to be held in Malaysia February next.

He said: "We are passing a good time as we won the series 3-2 against Pakistan U-19 team and Sri Lanka U-19 team recently. We want to keep up the trend in the upcoming series in South Africa."

He added: "Our main target (in SA) is to prepare ourselves well before the World Cup."

Bangladesh U-19 squad: Suhrawardy Shuvo (captain), Dollar Mahmud, Marshall Ayub, Ashraful Aziz, Shuvashish Roy, Rubel Hossain, Syed Golam Kibria, Rony Talukdar, Mahmudul Hasan Limon, Nasir Hossain, KM Shakil, Nadimuddin Mintu, Mithun Ali and Hamidul Islam Himel.