Najmul Hossain Shanto returns to Bangladesh’s T20I setup as Litton Das prepares to lead the team at the 2026 Asian Games.
Bangladesh have recalled Najmul Hossain Shanto to their T20I squad for the men’s cricket competition at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. The Bangladesh Cricket Board announced a 15-member squad for the tournament, with regular captain Litton Das returning to lead the side.
Shanto’s selection is one of the most notable developments in the squad because he had been away from Bangladesh’s T20I setup for more than a year. His last T20I appearance came against the United Arab Emirates in Sharjah in May 2025 before he was dropped from the shortest-format squad.
His return gives Bangladesh another experienced top-order batting option. The squad also includes Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon and Saif Hasan, providing Bangladesh with several choices at the top of the order.
Litton Das has been named captain after missing Bangladesh’s recent T20 assignments. Towhid Hridoy has been named vice-captain, while the squad also contains experienced players such as Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Rishad Hossain and Nasum Ahmed.
Bangladesh will enter the Asian Games directly at the quarterfinal stage. They secured a bronze medal at the previous edition and will be hoping to improve on that result in Japan. Bangladesh previously won gold in the 2010 Asian Games before taking bronze in the 2014 and 2022 editions.
The inclusion of Shanto could prove particularly valuable as Bangladesh look to balance experience with younger talent. His international record and familiarity with pressure situations give the side another reliable batting option, especially in a short tournament where every match can have major consequences.
Bangladesh’s men’s cricket campaign at the Asian Games is scheduled to begin in September, with the cricket competition starting on September 17. The team will face the winner of Group B, which features Hong Kong, Malaysia and Oman, in the quarterfinal stage on September 29.
With Litton Das back as captain and Shanto returning to the T20I fold, Bangladesh will enter the tournament with a strong squad and ambitions of going beyond their previous bronze-medal finish.
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