In a significant update ahead of the Asian Games, Bangladesh has welcomed back Najmul Hossain Shanto and Hasan Mahmud to their T20I squad. The tournament, set to take place in September, will see Litton Das return as captain after recovering from a hamstring injury that kept him sidelined during the recent series against Zimbabwe and Australia.
Shanto's return marks his first appearance in T20I cricket since May of the previous year. During his absence, he faced a challenging stretch, going 19 innings without a half-century before relinquishing the captaincy to Das. However, the 27-year-old has made a notable impact in longer formats, leading Bangladesh to their first Test victory in Australia and contributing a half-century in Darwin. His performance in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) last year was also commendable, where he amassed 355 runs, including a century and a fifty.
On the other hand, Hasan Mahmud returns to the T20I fold after last featuring during Bangladesh's tour of Pakistan last year, where he claimed three wickets across three matches but had a high economy rate of 11.30. His recent performances in the BPL were more promising, as he took 10 wickets at an average of 24.67 and was recognized as the Player of the Match in Bangladesh's historic Test win in Australia.
In contrast, the squad has seen the exclusion of Nurul Hasan and Abdul Gaffar Saqlain, while fast bowler Nahid Rana remains out of action as he recovers from a side strain. The adjustments reflect Bangladesh's strategy to strengthen their lineup as they prepare for the competition.
Bangladesh is set to kick off their Asian Games campaign in the quarter-finals on September 28, where they will face the winner of Group B. All cricket matches during the tournament will be held at Korogi Sports Park. The team will be looking to improve on their previous performance, where they secured a bronze medal at the last Asian Games in 2023.
The full squad for the Asian Games includes: Litton Das (captain), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Saif Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tawhid Hridoy, Mosaddek Hossain, Yasir Ali, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, and Hasan Mahmud. With a mix of seasoned players and fresh talent, Bangladesh aims to make a strong statement in the upcoming tournament.
Leave a Comment