The fantastic five of the World Champions

While everyone is talking about how well the Bangladesh U-19 team gelled as a unit and how it performed as a team.

It would be unfair to the rest of the team to pick out any particular player because, in all honesty, it was a total team effort in the field, and with the batting, one person or the other stood up and took responsibility when needed.    

But there were key performances from three players – Akbar Ali, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, and Rakibul Hasan – in the field and there were two men behind the scenes - Khaled Mahmud and Richard Stonier – that led to the team winning their first-ever ICC silverware.

Here we take a closer look at each member, their story, and their contribution to the team becoming World Cup winners.

Akbar Ali

The Captain was definitely the man for the big occasion as he guided his side to victory in the final.

But the way in which he carried himself on and off the pitch, set excellent fields and made the right bowling changes when necessary cannot be undermined at all.

Setting the tone and bringing the attack to the Indian side in the final was of utmost importance, and Akbar made sure his bowlers paid heed.

Perhaps they were a bit too aggressive at times but they made sure an Indian batting unit, that had not been bowled out in the entire tournament was bowled out for a below-par 177.

As legendary West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop put it after the match: "Akbar showed maturity beyond his age and the bowling and fielding was of a top-notch international side. India had to fight for every single run they scored."

Akbar had barely gotten a chance to bat earlier in the tournament and he also had to deal with the news that he had lost his sister, as the tournament was going on.

But he showed nerves of steel and leadership qualities that bodes well for the future of Bangladesh cricket – one which is looking for their next long-term captain with the career of Mashrafe Bin Mortaza winding down.

Mahmudul Hasan Joy

As a boy, he wouldn't be given a chance to bat with the boys in his locality as he was younger than them.

But Joy made sure that he made his chance count in the big stage as he produced a match-winning knock against New Zealand in the semifinal.

His 100 was the only century for Bangladesh in this tournament and that innings was a history-making one as he ensured the young Tigers had reached their first final in an ICC event.

Joy ended up as the highest run-getter for Bangladesh as well and had useful contributions of 38* and 35* in the first two Group Stage games against Zimbabwe and Scotland.

As India U-19 fast bowler Kartik Tyagi said to the build-up of the final: "One of Bangladesh's best players is Joy and if I could take his wicket, it would be special."

Joy, a person who is soft-spoken models his batting around India's legendary batsman Rahul Dravid and he shows the technique and temperament to become Bangladesh's batting "Wall" in the near future.

Rakibul Hasan

There was a time, not so long ago, when Bangladesh was the land of left-arm off-spinners.

From Mohammad Rafique to Abdur Razzaq to Shakib Al Hasan and even more recently the likes of Elias Sunny and Arafat Sunny making a splash in the scene.

But with Shakib banned, and Razzaq at the nigh-end of his career Bangladesh are down to only Taijul Islam to lead the spin attack.

And that is where Rakibul Hasan can come in to carry the lineage of quality left-arm offies on for the Tigers.

Rakibul was arguably the most consistent bowler for the team throughout the tournament with his immaculate accuracy, which led to him being very economical as well.  

His moment of glory with the ball came against South Africa in the quarterfinal as he took a five-for and made sure the hosts got nowhere near the target set by the young Tigers.

But perhaps his most important contribution came in the final when he came on to bat with Captain Akbar and not only held his end up but also hit the winning run for his team to be crowned champions.

Richard Stonier

The strength and conditioning coach for the U-19 team has become quite the popular figure on social media over the past few weeks.

The man from Shelton, England has been seen as a bundle of energy and encouragement for the players, pumping fists and cheering every run scored and every run saved by his team from the dugout.

His energy and affection for this team has been hard to miss and many have likened his traits in the dugout to that of Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

"It's probably been the greatest 12 months of my life," an excited Stonier said to the official broadcaster after the final.

"These boys are fantastic – off the pitch and on the pitch. They're so respectful. They look up to me. We have formed a great family, relationship. Coming from England, I could've never imagined this. It's a dream come true for me," the Stoke City football team fan added.

And a lot of credit to the positive energy and the vibes in the team, along with the way the team have fielded exceptionally has to go to Stonier.

Khaled Mahmud

This man has been in the face of a lot of trolls – mostly unnecessary – on social media but his passion and love for the game of cricket cannot be denied.

As the head of game development in the BCB, Mahmud has to be credited for being the mastermind behind this team.

The planning which started two years ago and the selection and grooming of the players all were part of his meticulous plan to make the U-19 team World Champions.

At the end of the final, as his side were crowned champions, tears of joy rolled down his cheeks and it truly showed what this win meant for him.

As a former national team player and a captain, he knows the trials and travails of what it takes to make it to the national team.

And with Bangladesh struggling to find a crop of cricketers to replace the current fab five – Mashrafe, Shakib, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad – this U-19 team gives the cricketing fraternity a big ray of hope for the future.

The next few months will arguably be the most important in their careers as superstardom will engulf them and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already said these players will get felicitated.

The money and fame will come, but how these players respond to it and how the board deals with these players to prepare them for the big stage will be the most important.