Litton Das Eyes Asian Games Gold: A Rare Chance for Bangladesh

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-09-24

Bangladesh captain Litton Das is on a mission. He wants to lead his team to gold at the 2026 Asian Games men's cricket competition in Japan. And he's not shy about saying it. "This is a rare opportunity," Das told journalists in Mirpur on September 23, 2026, just before the team flew out to Nagoya the next day. For a cricketer from Bangladesh, that's not just talk. It's a shot at history. ### Why This Tournament Matters So Much Here's the thing: Bangladesh has only ever won one gold medal at the Asian Games across all sports. That came in 2010 in Guangzhou, China, when the men's cricket team stunned everyone. Since then, there have been bronze medals in 2014 and 2023, plus a couple of silvers and a bronze from the women's team. But that gold? It's been sitting alone for 16 years. Das and several senior players missed the 2023 Asian Games because the schedule clashed with the 50-over ICC Cricket World Cup. So this time, it's personal. "We want to repeat what happened in 2010," Das said. And he's hoping a strong showing in Japan could even help Bangladesh's path to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, where cricket will make its official return. ### The Road to the Final Asian Games organizers gave Bangladesh a direct entry into the quarter-finals, alongside India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. That's a huge advantage. Their opening knockout match is set for September 29, 2026. The preliminary league stage runs from September 24 to 26, and officials will decide the quarter-final opponents after that. So Bangladesh's path is clear: win three consecutive matches, and they take the title. The squad will base itself in Nagoya and travel to Japan in two separate flights on Thursday evening and night. ### Mixed Form, But High Hopes Let's be real: Bangladesh's T20 form in 2026 hasn't been great. They've played eight T20 Internationals this year, winning three and losing five. Those matches came against New Zealand, Australia, and Zimbabwe. Their last T20 series win was in July 2026, a 2-1 victory over Zimbabwe. But Das isn't worried. He pointed out that international players regularly play in bilateral tours and franchise leagues, but the Asian Games is a different beast. "It's a multi-sport event," he said. "You're surrounded by athletes from other disciplines. That adds extra motivation." He also urged his teammates to gain experience in international franchise leagues, citing former captains Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman as examples. Their global franchise appearances, he said, created opportunities for Bangladeshi cricket. ### A Late Squad Shake-Up Just before departure, Bangladesh suffered a major injury setback. Fast-bowling allrounder Mohammad Saifuddin picked up a right hamstring injury during training. Medical tests ruled him out of the entire tournament. National selectors called up 29-year-old mystery offspinner Aliss Al Islam as his replacement. Aliss earned his maiden call-up to the senior national T20 squad after performing well for Bangladesh A in an unofficial One-Day International series in South Africa. His inclusion expands Bangladesh's spin-bowling options. ### The Bottom Line Das is leading an "eager" and "excited" side, as he put it. They know the odds. They know the history. And they know that three wins could bring home only the second gold medal in Bangladesh's Asian Games history. For Das and his team, that's more than enough motivation. As Das put it: "We have prepared thoroughly. Our objective is clear: reach the final and win." Now it's time to see if they can deliver.