Litton Das and Bangladesh Chase Rare Asian Games Gold

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-09-24

### A Captain's Mission in Japan Litton Das isn't mincing words. Bangladesh's captain wants gold at the 2026 Asian Games men's cricket competition in Japan, and he's treating it like the chance of a lifetime. He spoke with reporters in Mirpur on September 23, 2026, just before the squad flew out to Nagoya the next day. "This is a rare opportunity," Das said, according to reporters at the press conference. "We've prepared thoroughly, and our goal is clear: reach the final and win." You can feel the urgency in how he talks about it. This isn't just another tournament for him. ### Seeded Straight Into the Quarter-Finals Here's a break Bangladesh gets right away: organizers granted them direct entry into the quarter-finals, alongside India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. That means no group-stage grind. Their first knockout match is set for September 29, 2026. The preliminary league runs from September 24 to 26, with other Asian sides battling it out. Once those matches wrap, officials will decide who Bangladesh faces in the quarters. The team itself will travel to Japan on two separate flights Thursday evening and night, then set up camp in Nagoya. The math is simple from there. Win three straight games, and you're champions. ### Why 2010 Still Matters Bangladesh's men won gold at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China. That remains the country's only gold medal in Asian Games history across every sport. Since then, the men's cricket team has taken bronze in 2014 and 2023. The women's side has two silvers and a bronze of their own. Das and several senior players missed the 2023 Games because the schedule clashed with the 50-over ICC Cricket World Cup. So for him, this trip carries extra weight. He wants to repeat 2010. He also sees a bigger picture: a strong showing in Japan could help Bangladesh's pathway toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, where cricket officially returns. ### Limited Match Rhythm, Plenty of Belief Let's be honest about the form book. Bangladesh played eight T20 Internationals in 2026, winning three and losing five. Those came against New Zealand, Australia, and Zimbabwe. Their last T20 series win was in July 2026, a 2-1 result over Zimbabwe. Das knows the numbers aren't perfect. But he argues the Asian Games is a different beast entirely. "Being in a multi-sport event with athletes from other disciplines adds something special," he said. He also pushed his teammates to chase experience in international franchise leagues. He pointed to former captains Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman as examples of players whose global appearances opened doors for Bangladeshi cricket. ### A Late Squad Shake-Up Not everything went smoothly before departure. Fast-bowling allrounder Mohammad Saifuddin suffered a right hamstring injury during training. Medical tests ruled him out of the entire tournament. Selectors called up 29-year-old mystery offspinner Aliss Al Islam as his replacement. Aliss earned his first senior T20 call-up after strong performances for Bangladesh A in an unofficial One-Day International series in South Africa. His inclusion gives the squad more spin-bowling options. Now it's up to Das and his group to turn preparation into results. Three wins. One gold. A nation watching.