Bangladesh name Asian Games T20 squad: Shanto, Mahmud recalled; Litton leads
Synopsis
Bangladesh's Asian Games T20 squad is a story of redemption — Shanto, stripped of the T20 captaincy after 19 innings without a fifty, returns on the back of a historic Darwin Test hundred, while Mahmud comes in fresh off a Player of the Match performance in the same match. With Litton fit again and Nahid Rana still recovering, Bangladesh's selection reflects form over sentiment — and a genuine shot at going beyond bronze.
Key Takeaways
Litton Das returns as captain of Bangladesh's 15-man T20I squad for the Asian Games in Japan after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Najmul Hossain Shanto is recalled to T20I cricket after a gap since May last year , having gone 19 innings without a half-century before his recent red-ball revival.
Hasan Mahmud returns after his last T20I appearance on Bangladesh's Pakistan tour last year , where he took 3 wickets at an economy of 11.30 .
Nurul Hasan and Abdul Gaffar Saqlain have been dropped; Nahid Rana is absent due to a side strain.
Bangladesh open their campaign in the quarterfinals on 28 September at Korogi Sports Park , aiming to improve on their bronze medal from the previous Asian Games edition.
Litton Das returns as captain of a 15-man Bangladesh T20I squad for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, with Najmul Hossain Shanto and fast bowler Hasan Mahmud recalled to the side. The squad, announced ahead of the multi-sport event beginning 17 September in the Aichi-Nagoya region, sees Bangladesh eye improvement on their bronze-medal finish from the previous edition.
Litton Back at the Helm
Litton had been sidelined from Bangladesh's recent T20I series against Zimbabwe and Australia due to a hamstring injury. His return to the captaincy signals the team management's confidence in his fitness ahead of a tournament where Bangladesh enter as direct quarterfinalists. The side will open their campaign in the quarterfinals on 28 September against the winner of Group B, with all cricket fixtures set to be held at Korogi Sports Park.
Shanto's Road Back to T20 Cricket
Najmul Hossain Shanto makes his return to the shortest format after last featuring in a T20I against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in May last year. The top-order batter had endured a difficult T20 run — going 19 innings without a half-century — which ultimately cost him the T20I captaincy, a role that passed to Litton. However, Shanto has since rebuilt his credentials emphatically. He spearheaded Bangladesh to a historic first Test victory in Australia, contributing a half-century in Darwin, and compiled 355 runs, including a century and a fifty, during the last Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) season. Notably, he was named Player of the Match alongside Mahmud in the Darwin Test win.
Hasan Mahmud's Return to T20 Setup
Pacer Hasan Mahmud is back in the T20I fold after his last appearance during Bangladesh's Pakistan tour last year, where he claimed three wickets across three matches at an economy rate of 11.30. Since then, Mahmud has sharpened his credentials in red-ball cricket, claiming 10 wickets at an average of 24.67 in the last BPL season and sharing the Player of the Match award with Shanto in Darwin. His recall reflects the selectors' belief that his recent form warrants another look in the shortest format.
Omissions and Injuries
Wicketkeeper-batter Nurul Hasan and Abdul Gaffar Saqlain have been dropped from the squad. Fast bowler Nahid Rana misses out as he continues to recover from a side strain. The absences reshape Bangladesh's lower-order balance, though the squad retains considerable depth with the likes of Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, and Mohammad Saifuddin in the pace department.
Tournament Context and Bangladesh's Ambitions
Bangladesh enter the Asian Games as direct quarterfinalists alongside India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and hosts Japan. In the previous edition, Bangladesh claimed a bronze medal, finishing behind silver-medallists Sri Lanka and gold-medal winners India. The squad will be aiming to go one step further this time around, buoyed by a historic Test win in Australia and the return of key personnel. Full squad: 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, Hasan Mahmud.
Point of View
Betting that his Darwin confidence translates across formats. But the T20 problem that cost him the captaincy — an inability to convert starts in the shortest format — has not been structurally addressed. Mahmud's economy rate of 11.30 in his last T20I outing is a concern selectors appear willing to overlook given his recent red-ball brilliance, which is a gamble in a format where economy is everything. Bangladesh's path to a medal runs through giants — India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka — and the squad, while improved, will need more than form momentum to go beyond bronze.
NationPress
2 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is captaining Bangladesh's Asian Games T20 squad?
Litton Das will captain the 15-man Bangladesh T20I squad for the Asian Games after returning from a hamstring injury that kept him out of recent series against Zimbabwe and Australia.
Why was Najmul Hossain Shanto recalled to the T20I squad?
Shanto was recalled on the back of strong recent form, including a half-century in Bangladesh's historic first Test win in Australia and 355 runs in the last BPL season. He had previously lost the T20I captaincy after going 19 innings without a half-century.
When does Bangladesh play their first match at the Asian Games?
Bangladesh will open their Asian Games campaign in the quarterfinals on 28 September, facing the winner of Group B. All cricket fixtures are scheduled at Korogi Sports Park in the Aichi-Nagoya region.
Who has been dropped or is missing from the Bangladesh squad?
Wicketkeeper-batter Nurul Hasan and Abdul Gaffar Saqlain have been dropped from the squad. Fast bowler Nahid Rana is absent as he continues recovering from a side strain.
What did Bangladesh achieve at the previous Asian Games?
Bangladesh won a bronze medal at the previous Asian Games cricket tournament, finishing behind silver-medallists Sri Lanka and gold-medal winners India. The team will be aiming to improve on that result in Japan.
