Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on September 2 announced their squad for Asian Games 2026 in Japan. Litton Das has returned as captain after missing the series against Australia and Zimbabwe due to injury and Lanka Premier League (LPL) commitments respectively. Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has returned to the T20I side as well. He was dropped following the tour of UAE last year in May.
With Das returning, Towhid Hridoy will be his deputy. Hridoy had led Bangladesh against Australia and Zimbabwe. Das’ return has also led to wicketkeeper-batter Nurul Hasan facing the axe. Nurul had scored just seven runs from two innings in Zimbabwe. Against Australia, he registered a single-digit score as well.
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Pacers Taskin Ahmed, Abdullah Gaffar Saqlain and Nahid Rana are missing from the squad. Taskin and Saqlain were on the tour of Zimbabwe whereas Rana continues to be out of action as he is recovering from a side strain. Also, all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz is not part of the squad either.
Taskin was wicketless in his last five T20I appearances. Saqlain had made his T20I debut against Australia, taking two wickets. He has four wickets from three T20Is so far. Recently, he claimed a four-fer for Bangladesh High Performance XI against Adelaide Strikers in Top End T20 series.
Bangladesh squad for Asian Games 2026:
Litton Das (captain), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy (vice-captain), Mosaddek Hossain, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud.
Bangladesh are one of the five seeded teams who have earned direct qualification for Asian Games 2026 quarterfinals. Their campaign will commence on September 29.
Bronze medal in 2023 Asian Games
In the previous edition of Asian Games, Bangladesh had won the bronze medal upon defeating Pakistan by six wickets via DLS method in rain-curtailed five overs per side match. In the semifinal, they had suffered a nine-wicket defeat to Ruturaj Gaikwad-led India after managing 96/9 on the board.
Saif Hassan led that Bangladesh team. He is part of the current squad as well. Yasir Ali, Parvez Hossain Emon, Rishad Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain played in the 2023 edition as well.