Bangladesh Under-19 coach Naveed Nawaz praised the team effort, saying that the different players led the charges during the crunch moment, something which gave proof of the team's depth, reports BSS.
"I think we performed really well as a team," he said while addressing the media at the airport. "It was a long, tiring tour. We played 11 matches in 30 days, so it was not easy. With all the travel, cricket and training and all that, it was a difficult tour."
Bangladesh started the African tour with a 3-1 victory over South African and then went to Zimbabwe for a tri-series tournament, also involving hosts Zimbabwe and South Africa.
They won five out of six in group phase before beating South Africa by 33 runs in the final to seal the trophy.
Naveed said the key to success was that the team didn't depend on any particular cricketer.
"Adjusting to the different conditions on South African soil, going to Zimbabwe; the conditions there were quite different from South Africa," he noted.
"So I think the boys have adapted really well and the main thing was that we saw different players take charge when the situation demanded, so it was really good to see that."
Naveed said about his belief in hard work, "I'm not a person who believes in luck. I believe in hard work."
So, I think the boys have worked a lot in the last year or so, he added.
"And now I think it's time for us to sit down and plan and be smart about the options we're taking and move forward with a good plan for the next six months."
He heaped praise on Azizul Hakim Tamim, saying: "Tamim is a good leader and he has shown over the last year or so that he is capable of leading the team well."
Earlier, The Under-19 team returned home on Tuesday night after winning a bilateral series against South Africa followed by a tri-series trophy triumph in Zimbabwe.
Bangladesh's U-19 cricket team returned home carrying more than just a trophy. After winning a one-day series in South Africa and a tri-nation tournament in Zimbabwe, the young side say their eyes are now firmly on the 2026 World Cup.
The final in Harare belonged to allrounder Rizan Hossain, who struck 95 and took five wickets for 34.
Captain Azizul Hakim Tamim didn't hold back his praise.
"When we were struggling, Ratul won us two matches. That means a lot. And Rizan's performance in the last match-when the team needed it most-was outstanding," he said.
Tamim sees signs of growth in recent weeks. "Our middle-order batters like Abdullah and Rizan have been doing well. Alhamdulillah, overall it's been a good team performance with contributions from everyone," he said.
The Under-19 World Cup will be held in January in Zimbabwe and Namibia. For Tamim, preparation is already in motion. "Everything is in Allah's hands, but we've been working for a year now-mentally and physically-with the World Cup in mind," he said.
The wins in Africa, he believes, are not the finish line. "It's encouragement," he said, "but the real work is still ahead."
