Bangladesh have announced a full-strength squad for the Asian Games in Japan, with fast bowler Nahid Rana missing out as he continues his recovery from a side strain.
The squad, announced on September 2, will be captained by regular skipper Litton Das. As a Test-playing nation, Bangladesh will enter the tournament at the quarter-final stage, where they will take on the winners of Group B on September 29. Hong Kong, Malaysia and Oman are the teams in that group.
The cricket competition will be played from September 24 to October 3 at Korogi Sports Park in Aichi Prefecture. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are among the other teams taking part.
Rana's absence is a significant setback for Bangladesh because of the pace he adds to their bowling attack. The 23-year-old suffered a Grade Two side strain during the tour of Zimbabwe in July, which later forced him to miss Bangladesh's historic two-Test series in Australia. He travelled to Australia for a specialist assessment and has been undergoing rehabilitation since then.
HABIBUL BASHAR CONFIRMS RANA'S RETURN PLAN
BCB chief selector Habibul Bashar said Rana was left out as part of the board's cautious approach to his recovery. The pacer is now expected to return during Bangladesh's Afghanistan series in October.
“We are not considering Nahid Rana for the Asian Games owing to his rehabilitation process,” Bashar had told Cricbuzz. “He will return with the Afghanistan series. It remains to be seen whether he will play Test or ODI. But it is 100% confirmed that he will not play in the Asian Games.”
Rana has returned to bowling in the nets following a six-week absence, but Bangladesh do not want to rush him into competitive action until he is completely fit. He has already taken 38 wickets in 12 Tests, 32 wickets in 15 ODIs and eight wickets in five T20Is, highlighting his increasing importance to the national team.
SHANTO RETURNS TO T20I SET-UP
Another major talking point is the return of Najmul Hossain Shanto to Bangladesh's T20I squad. The left-hander last represented the country in a T20I against the UAE in May 2025 and had since been out of contention in the shortest format.
Shanto's comeback provides Bangladesh with another experienced top-order batter alongside Litton Das, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon and Saif Hassan. He has accumulated 987 runs in 50 T20Is, including four half-centuries, and will now get another opportunity to establish himself in the format.
The squad also features vice-captain Towhid Hridoy, Rishad Hossain, Sheikh Mehedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman and Hasan Mahmud.
Bangladesh will be aiming to better their bronze-medal finish from the 2023 Asian Games, although they will have to pursue that goal without one of their most promising young fast bowlers.
Bangladesh squad for Asian Games
Litton Das (Captain), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy (Vice-Captain), Mosaddek Hossain, Yasir Ali, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman and Hasan Mahmud.
