Naeem Islam, a top order batsman and part-time offspinner, was part of the Bangladesh team that won the Plate Championship in the 2003-04 Under-19 World Cup. He made the highest score in the famous triumph in the Plate final over Australia, the defending champions. Eight of his team-mates who played the final, including Aftab Ahmed and Shahadat Hossain, made it to the national team. Islam earned a call-up to Bangladesh's ODI squad in October 2008 after the likes of Aftab, Shahriar Nafees and Alok Kapali joined the ICL. His performances helped as well: during Bangladesh's Academy tour of Sri Lanka, during which he captained the side, he led the batting averages with 304 runs at 43.42 from six games.