Bangladesh captain Litton Das has led a full-strength squad to Japan for the 2026 Asian Games, as the men’s cricket tournament officially commenced today, September 24, at the Kōrogi Sports Park.
The Tigers, who received a direct bye to the quarter-finals as a seeded nation, will play their first match on September 29. The competition began on Tuesday morning with an opening fixture featuring hosts Japan and Afghanistan.
Litton’s presence as captain follows a recovery from a recent hamstring injury, ensuring Bangladesh enters the continental multi-sport event with their primary leadership intact. The squad includes several frontline internationals, including Mustafizur Rahman and Najmul Hossain Shanto, a selection that prioritizes a podium finish over player rotation.
The team was forced into a tactical adjustment on Wednesday after all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin was ruled out of the tournament. Saifuddin suffered a right hamstring injury that requires three weeks of rehabilitation. Uncapped mystery off-spinner Aliss Al Islam was drafted into the squad as a late replacement.
Analysis of the selection indicates that team management anticipates the tracks at Kōrogi Sports Park will reward spin and deceptive variations rather than traditional pace-bowling depth. Aliss, who has impressed in domestic circles with his unique action, is now in line for a potential international debut during the knockout stages.
Litton emphasized the gravity of the tournament upon arrival. “Playing Asian Games is a rare occurence,” Litton said. He noted the scale of the competition, stating, “This event feels like the Asia Cup and World Cup.”
The captain was explicit regarding the team’s ambitions for the coming week. “Target is definitely clear… big dream is to win the gold medal,” Litton stated, confirming the mission to secure the top prize in Nagoya.
The men’s squad aims to improve upon the performance of the Bangladesh Women‘s team, who finished their campaign in fourth place on September 22. The women’s side missed out on a podium finish after a defeat to Pakistan in the bronze medal match.
With the group stages now underway, Bangladesh will monitor the results of the preliminary rounds to determine their quarter-final opponent for the match on September 29.
