Several Bangladesh players fail new fitness test ahead of T20 Asia Cup 2025: Report

Weeks Ahead of the ACC T20 Asia Cup 2025, several Bangladesh players failed to meet expectations in the new fitness test set by new strength and conditioning coach Nathan Keily. The Yo-Yo test has been swapped with 1600-meter run and 40-meter sprint. Nahid Rana stood out of the lot by completing the run in just five minutes and 31 seconds.

As per a report by Cricbuzz, veteran pacers Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed took nearly eight minutes to complete the 1600-meter run. Tanvir Islam and Shamim Patowary were unimpressive as well.

"Rana was just outstanding," a member of the team management told Cricbuzz on August 10. "Few others also did well, but at the same time there were couple of cricketers who could not meet our expectations."

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Apart from Rana, the only other player who finished under six minutes was Tanzim Hasan Sakib with five minutes and 53 seconds.

Young Parvez Hossain Emon got over the line in six minutes and 13 seconds whereas senior player Mushfiqur Rahim took six minutes and 10 seconds. All-rounder Mahedi Hasan Miraz was just a second over six minutes as he completed 1600-meter run.

T20I captain Litton Kumar Das and Towhid Hridoy were among six cricketers from the 25-member preliminary camp who missed the fitness test.

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Bangladesh’s preparatory series against Netherlands

Bangladesh will play a three-T20I series at home starting August 30. The T20I series against the Dutch will conclude on September 3.

Then, they will begin their T20 Asia Cup 2025 campaign against Hong Kong on September 11 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Bangladesh have been placed in Group B alongside Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.

Recently, Bangladesh beat Pakistan 2-1 in the three-T20I series at home. They will look to continue the good form and aim for the first ever Asia Cup title win.

Bangladesh’s preliminary squad for Asia Cup 2025 and Netherlands series:

Litton Das (c), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Mohammad Naim Sheikh, Soumya Sarkar, Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shamim Hossain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Tanvir Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mohammad Saifuddin, Nahid Rana, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Saif Hassan.