Bangladesh, on Friday, named a 16-member squad for Asia Cup 2025. The Bangladesh selectors sprung a few surprises in the squad as they recalled wicket-keeper batter Nurul Hasan in the team. Nurul Hasan last played a T20I three years ago during the 2022 edition of the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia. Litton Das as expected will lead the side and the squad that has been announced by the Bangladesh Cricket Board will be the same squad that features against Netherlands in a three-match T20I series before the Asia Cup.
Saif Hassan also gets a recall to the side.
Apart from Nurul Hasan, who returned on the back of his impressive performance in domestic cricket, the Bangladesh team also sees the return of Saif Hassan back to the national T20I set-up after a gap of one and a half years. He last played for Bangladesh way back in 2023 Asian Games.
The upcoming eight-team tournament will be held in UAE from September 9th to September 28th and it will be a crucial step in Bangladesh’s journey towards next year’s T20 World Cup. Bangladesh are placed in Group B alongside Afghanistan, Hong Kong, and Sri Lanka while Group A comprises of India, Pakistan, Oman and hosts UAE.
Litton Das, who led Bangladesh to their maiden T20I series win against Sri Lanka followed it up with a series victory over Pakistan at home in July. He will look to now continue in same vein in the multi-lateral tournament.
Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed make the squad while Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Najmul Hossain Shanto misses out.
Litton Das is expected to be ably supported by experienced campaigners in the form of Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed as they make the cut. Whereas, Mehidy Hasan Miraz who was part of the last T20I squad did not find a place in the main team while the likes of Soumya Sarkar, Tanvir Islam and Hasan Mahmud features in the standby list.
There was also no place for former T20I and Test skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto which was on the expected lines. Before the Asia Cup, Bangladesh will take on Netherlands in a 3-match series and the first of those matches is scheduled to take place on August 30th in Sylhet.
Bangladesh Squad for Asia Cup:
Litton Das (c), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Saif Hassan, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali Anik, Shamim Hossain, Qazi Nurul Hasan Sohan, Shaik Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Saifuddin.
Stand By: Soumya Sarkar, Tanvir Islam, Hasan Mahmud
Bangladesh Featuring in Group of Death.
The stage is set for Bangladesh to challenge for Asia Cup 2025. But the road would not be easy as they have been clubbed in the group of death in Group B alongside Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong. While Hong Kong will be beaten by the other three sides with all due respect to them, it is basically a three-way tie for the two spots to go through to Super 4 stage.
Bangladesh have to be at their top of the game to qualify for the Super 4s as they cannot take it easy as both Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are quality sides. Their first task will be to qualify for the super 4 and then take it from there if they reach there. It’s easier said than done but they have the quality and team to go deep in the tournament as it is a nice blend of youth and experience.
Under Litton Das, they have done well in bilateral series and he will be hoping to carry that forward in the multi-nation tournament as this will be the ideal preparation for T20 World Cup 2026 slated to be held in India and Sri Lanka. If they do well in Asia Cup, they will get confidence moving forward. Let’s see how things unfold for Bangladesh and all other teams when Asia Cup comes along on September 9th in UAE.
Also Read: Asia Cup 2025: Ramandeep Singh Shares His Experience Of Playing With Shubman Gill.