Bangladesh have named a full-strength squad for the Asian Games in Japan, but fast bowler Nahid Rana has missed out as he continues his rehabilitation from a side strain.
The squad, announced on September 2, will be led by regular captain Litton Das. Bangladesh, as a Test-playing nation, will enter the competition directly at the quarter-final stage, where they will face the winners of Group B on September 29. Hong Kong, Malaysia and Oman make up the group.
The cricket event will be held from September 24 to October 3 at Korogi Sports Park in Aichi Prefecture, with India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan among the other participating teams.
Rana’s absence is a notable blow for Bangladesh, given the pace he brings to their attack. The 23-year-old suffered a Grade Two side strain during the tour of Zimbabwe in July, an injury that subsequently ruled him out of Bangladesh’s historic two-Test tour of Australia. He travelled to Australia for a specialist consultation and has since been undergoing rehabilitation.
HABIBUL BASHAR CONFIRMS RANA’S RETURN PLAN
BCB chief selector Habibul Bashar confirmed that Rana’s omission is part of the board’s cautious approach to his recovery, with the pacer now targeting a return during the Afghanistan series in October.
“We are not considering Nahid Rana for the Asian Games owing to his rehabilitation process,” Bashar told Cricbuzz earlier. “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 resumed bowling in the nets after a six-week layoff, but Bangladesh are unwilling to push him back into competitive cricket before he is fully ready. He has already taken 38 wickets in 12 Tests, 32 in 15 ODIs and eight in five T20Is, underlining his growing importance to the national side.
SHANTO RETURNS TO T20I FOLD
One of the biggest talking points in the squad is the return of Najmul Hossain Shanto to Bangladesh’s T20I set-up. The left-hander last played a T20I against the UAE in May 2025 and had subsequently been out of the national side’s plans in the shortest format.
Shanto’s recall gives Bangladesh another experienced top-order option alongside Litton Das, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon and Saif Hassan. He has scored 987 runs in 50 T20Is, including four half-centuries, and will now have an opportunity to revive his credentials in the format.
The squad also includes vice-captain Towhid Hridoy, Rishad Hossain, Sheikh Mehedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman and Hasan Mahmud.
Bangladesh will be looking to improve on their bronze-medal finish at the 2023 Asian Games, but they will have to do so without one of their most exciting 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
– Ends
