Bangladesh began their Under-19 Asia Cup campaign with a win against Afghanistan and followed it up with a commanding performance against Nepal in their second group match. The young Tigers, led by Azizul Haque Tamim, overwhelmed Nepal by seven wickets, powered by a disciplined bowling display and an unbeaten 70 from opener Jawad Abrar. This victory puts Bangladesh firmly on course for the semifinals.
Should Afghanistan lose to Sri Lanka in the group’s other match, Bangladesh will secure a semifinal spot with a game to spare.
Match Summary
The contest, held on Monday, 15 December, at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai, saw Bangladesh captain Tamim win the toss and elect to field. Nepal’s batting lineup struggled under pressure from the disciplined Bangladeshi bowlers.
At one stage, Nepal were in dire straits, losing 5 wickets for just 61 runs. Key contributions came from Shahil Patel (18), Niraj Kumar (14), Bhans Chettri (4), Kibrin Shrestha (5), and Nischal, who was dismissed without scoring. Skipper Ashok Dhami added only 5 runs before departing.
A small partnership between Ashish Luha and Abhishek Tiwari offered a brief resistance, but Nepal were eventually all out for 130 in 31.1 overs. Luha scored 23 off 41 balls, while Tiwari contributed 30 from 43 deliveries. For Bangladesh, Sabuj took 3 wickets, leading the bowling charge.
Chasing a modest target of 131, Bangladesh faced early jitters, losing two wickets for 29 runs. Rifat Beg (5) and captain Tamim (1) fell cheaply, putting the young Tigers under pressure.
Enter Jawad Abrar, who alongside Kalam Siddiqui, rebuilt the innings with a 92-run partnership that steadied the ship. Siddiqui scored 34 before being dismissed, while Jawad reached his fifty and remained unbeaten on 70 runs off 68 balls, hitting 7 fours and 3 sixes, before ensuring victory with Rizaan Hossain (12 off 8 balls).
Nepal’s only wickets came from Abhishek Tiwari and Yubaraj Khatri, who claimed one each.
Bangladesh vs Nepal U19 Asia Cup 2025: Key Stats
| Category | Bangladesh | Nepal |
| Runs scored | 131/3 | 130 all out |
| Top scorer | Jawad Abrar 70* | Abhishek Tiwari 30 |
| Best partnership | Jawad Abrar & Kalam Siddiqui – 92 | Ashish Luha & Abhishek Tiwari – 53 |
| Best bowling | Sabuj 3 wickets | Abhishek Tiwari 1, Yubaraj Khatri 1 |
| Result | Bangladesh won by 7 wickets | Lost by 7 wickets |