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Asian Games 2026: Najmul Hossain Shanto returns to T20 squad, Litton Das to lead; Bangladesh announces strong 15-member team
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced a strong 15-member T20 squad for the upcoming 20th Asian Games, to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The most notable name in the squad is senior batter Najmul Hossain Shanto, who makes his return to the T20 setup after a long hiatus. Shanto recently led the team to a historic Test victory against Australia in Darwin.
Litton Das named captain, Towhid Hridoy vice-captain
Regular captain Litton Das returns to the side after missing the last two T20 series (against Australia and Zimbabwe) due to injury and Lanka Premier League (LPL) commitments. Young batter Towhid Hridoy, who captained the team during the Zimbabwe tour, has been entrusted with the role of vice-captain for the tournament. With Litton's return, wicketkeeper-batter Nurul Hasan has been left out of the 15-member squad.
Pace bowling attack and key changes
- Notable Absences: Experienced fast bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Abdul Gaffar Saklain, who were part of the Zimbabwe tour squad, have not been included. Young pacer Nahid Rana was also unavailable for selection as he is recovering from a side strain.
- Strong Pace Attack: The team's pace bowling department will be spearheaded by Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, and Hasan Mahmud.
- Spin and All-round Department: Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mahedi Hasan, and Mohammad Saifuddin will provide balance to the team.
Campaign Begins with Quarter-Finals on September 29
Along with India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, Bangladesh has also secured direct entry into the quarter-finals due to its top seeding. The Bangladesh team will kick off its campaign with the quarter-final match on September 29.
Bangladesh's 15-Member Squad for the 2026 Asian Games
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.
