Bangladesh U-19 head coach Naveed Nawaz wants his players to stay united and enjoy the challenge as they head into the Asia Cup aiming for a third straight title.

Despite being defending champions, Nawaz downplayed the pressure on his side, saying he hopes expectations do not weigh them down. The Sri Lankan coach, who guided Bangladesh to their maiden U-19 World Cup win, is targeting his second Asia Cup trophy with the team.

Asked about the weight of expectations bearing down on his side ahead of the tournament, Naveed said, "I hope not."

His message to the team is simple. "I was just telling my boys… it's going to be just another tournament, and it all depends on which team plays better on the day," he said, with the side gearing up for a potential hat-trick of championships.

Bangladesh won the last two tournaments in the Gulf, defeating UAE and India respectively in the finals in 2023 and 2024.

"We were discussing the processes we have put in place. The main thing is to enjoy everything during the Asia Cup and work together as a team. Make sure no one is left alone, enjoy each other's success, and when pressure comes, we should be able to come out on top," he added.

Bangladesh U-19s have prepared heavily, akin to their preparation before the U-19 World Cup in South Africa in 2020. There have been a high volume of matches in foreign conditions during overseas tours.

Skipper Azizul Hakim relayed that preparations have been good.

"We have played 30-plus matches this year with many series. So our players have experience, and even those who played the last World Cup, such as [Sheikh Parvez] Jibon and [Iqbal Hossain] Emon, are with us, so let's see," Azizul said.