Litton Das Eyes Bangladesh's First Asian Games Gold Since 2010

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-09-24

### A Captain on a Mission 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 as something bigger than just another tournament. "This is a rare opportunity," Das told journalists in Mirpur on September 23, 2026, just before the squad flew out to Nagoya. You can hear the weight in that phrase. For a cricket-mad nation that has only ever won one Asian Games gold — across all sports — this isn't just a game. It's a shot at history. Das is leading what he calls an "eager" and "excited" side. And honestly, who wouldn't be? A multi-sport event, athletes from every discipline, a chance to put Bangladesh cricket on a different kind of map. ### The Road to the Final Here's where things get interesting. Asian Games organizers handed Bangladesh a direct pass into the quarter-finals, alongside India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. That's a huge advantage — no group-stage grind, no early slip-ups. - **Opening knockout fixture:** September 29, 2026 - **Preliminary league stage:** September 24–26, 2026 - **Quarter-final opponents:** Decided after league matches wrap up - **Base camp:** Nagoya The plan is simple on paper: win three straight knockout games and take the title. The delegation traveled to Japan in two flights on Thursday evening and night. Das knows the seeding is only worth something if they actually convert it. ### Why This One Hits Different Bangladesh won gold at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China. That remains the country's only Asian Games gold in any sport. Since then? Bronze in men's cricket in 2014 and 2023. The women's team has grabbed two silvers and a bronze. Das and several senior players missed the 2023 edition because it clashed with the 50-over ICC Cricket World Cup. So this is personal. "Returning gives us special motivation to repeat 2010," he said. But there's a bigger picture too. Das linked a strong showing in Japan to Bangladesh's pathway toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, where cricket officially returns. A medal here could be a launchpad. ### Limited Match Rhythm, Plenty of Belief Let's be real about the form book. Bangladesh played eight T20 Internationals in 2026 — winning three, losing five. Series against New Zealand, Australia, and Zimbabwe didn't exactly scream momentum. Their last T20 success came in July 2026, a 2-1 series win over Zimbabwe. Das isn't hiding from that. But he insists the Asian Games is "a different ball game." The multi-sport environment, the buzz of other athletes, the national pride — it all adds up to something you can't replicate in a bilateral series. He also had a message for his teammates: go play in franchise leagues. Learn from the world. He pointed to Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman as examples of players whose global franchise appearances opened doors for Bangladeshi cricket. ### A Late Squad Shake-Up Just before departure, Bangladesh hit a snag. Fast-bowling allrounder Mohammad Saifuddin picked up a right hamstring injury during training. Medical tests ruled him out of the entire tournament. In his place, selectors called up 29-year-old mystery offspinner Aliss Al Islam. It's his maiden call-up to the senior national T20 squad, earned after strong performances for Bangladesh A in an unofficial One-Day International series in South Africa. His inclusion gives Bangladesh extra spin options — always handy on Japanese pitches. ### The Bottom Line Bangladesh has the talent. They have the seeding. They have a captain who understands exactly what's at stake. What they don't have is a lot of recent T20 wins to lean on. But the Asian Games has a way of rewriting narratives. One good week in Nagoya, three knockout wins, and Litton Das could be holding the country's second-ever Asian Games gold. That's the dream. And as Das said, it's a rare opportunity.