Bangladesh names T20I squad for 2026 Asian Games with recalled players

Bangladesh has named a 15-member T20I squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, recalling batter Najmul Hossain Shanto and fast bowler Hasan Mahmud after extended absences from the format. The announcement was made on September 2, 2026, with Litton Das returning to lead the side after recovering from a hamstring injury that caused him to miss recent series against Zimbabwe and Australia. The tournament is scheduled to begin on September 17 in the Aichi-Nagoya region, with all cricket matches held at Korogi Sports Park. Bangladesh, along with India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and hosts Japan, has secured direct entry to the quarterfinals. The team will open its campaign on September 28 against the winner of Group B. Shanto's return to the T20I squad comes after more than a year, with his last appearance in the format against the United Arab Emirates in May 2025. His recall is attributed to a strong run of form across formats. He recently captained Bangladesh to a historic first Test victory on Australian soil, contributing a half-century in Darwin. In the Bangladesh Premier League, he scored 355 runs, including a century and a fifty.