Nahid Rana missed the big shot when Bangladesh named the Asian Games squad

Bangladesh have named a full squad for the Asian Games in Japan, but fast bowler Nahid Rana has been left out as he continues his rehabilitation from a side strain.

The team, announced on September 2, will be led by tribal captain Litton Das. As a Test nation, Bangladesh will enter the competition directly in the quarter-finals, where they will face the winners of Group B on September 29. The group consists of Hong Kong, Malaysia and Oman.

The cricket event will be held from September 24 to October 3 at the Korogi Sports Park in Aichi Prefecture, with India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan among the other participating teams.

Rana’s absence is a significant blow for Bangladesh, given the pace he brings to their attack. The 23-year-old suffered a second-degree sprain during the tour of Zimbabwe in July, an injury which subsequently ruled him out of Bangladesh’s historic two-Test tour of Australia. He traveled to Australia for professional consultation and has been undergoing rehabilitation ever since.

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 comeback during the Afghanistan series in October.

“We are not considering Nahid Rana for the Asian Games because of his rehabilitation process,” Bashar told Cricbuzz earlier. “He will come back for 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 after a six-week layoff, but Bangladesh do not want to push him back into competitive cricket before he is fully fit. He has already taken 38 wickets in 12 Tests, 32 in 15 ODIs and eight in five T20Is, underscoring his growing importance to the national side.

SHANTO RETURNS TO T20I FOLD

One of the highlights in the squad is Najmul Hossain Shanta’s return to Bangladesh’s T20I set-up. The left-hander last played a T20I against the UAE in May 2025 and was subsequently 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 team 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 finish at the 2023 Asian Games but will have to do so without one of their most exciting young fast bowlers.

Bangladesh team at the 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 and Musmud.

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Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

02 Sep 2026 20:32 IST