The batter-turned-bowler seizes his opportunity

Young paceman Al Fahad stole the show with a five-for in Bangladesh’s opening match against India in the U-19 World Cup 2026, putting behind the heartbreak of missing out on the last edition of the U-19 Asia Cup due to injury.

Bangladesh elected to bowl first against their rivals in this spicy clash between the two neighbours in Bulawayo on Saturday, and Al Fahad backed his skipper’s decision by coming up with a searing display of pace bowling.

The 19-year old lad from Feni made an immediate impact, dismissing opener and opposition captain Ayush Mhatre and Vedant Trivedi in the third over of India’s innings, before accounting for the wickets of Abhigyan Kundu, Khilan Patel and Deepesh Devendran later on to return brilliant figures of 5-38 in 9.2 overs.

This fine exhibition of fast bowling more than made up for the disappointment of having to sit out the U-19 Asia Cup last month in the United Arab Emirates, a turn of events that left a bad taste in Fahad’s mouth.

Fahad has just started his senior career, playing 10 List A matches and a solitary T20, and represented Abahani Limited in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League where he got the chance to pick the brain of Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed whom the youngster admires.

The right-arm seamer, who also takes inspiration from watching Australian pace bowling duo Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, learned a lesson or two from Taskin with regards to the run-up, mental preparation and how to stay strong in the face of adversity during crucial point of a game.

Whatever he has absorbed, he put into action against India, leading Bangladesh’s bowling attack and helping skittle the opponents out for 238.

Having already toured Zimbabwe, co-hosts of the 2026 U-19 World Cup, last year for a youth tri-nation series, Fahad is well placed to repeat his heroics in the rest of the tournament given his experience of playing in this southern African nation.

Fahad’s emergence is all the more remarkable bearing in mind that he wanted to be a batter growing up.

He rose through the ranks at U-12, U-14 and U-16 level before graduating to the U-19 side ahead of the U-19 World Cup, but prior to all that, he eyed batting as his primary discipline.

His father encouraged him to roll his arms and the rest, as they say, is history as Fahad excelled at bowling, marking himself as a future prospect in Bangladesh cricket.

Now, he has conquered India, announcing his grand arrival in international cricket, and Fahad would hope this is just the beginning of a long and prosperous career.