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

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-09-24

Bangladesh captain Litton Das has one thing on his mind as he leads his team to Japan: gold. The wicketkeeper-batter spoke to reporters in Mirpur on September 23, 2026, just before the squad left for Nagoya. He called the Asian Games a rare opportunity for his players to chase a national dream. "We've prepared thoroughly, and our goal is clear—reach the final," Das said. The team flies out on two separate flights Thursday evening and night, ready to make the most of their direct entry into the quarter-finals. ### A Fast Track to the Knockouts Bangladesh got a major boost when organizers granted them direct entry into the quarter-finals alongside India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. That means no group-stage grind—just a straight shot at the medal rounds. Their opening knockout fixture is set for September 29, 2026. - **Direct seed:** Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka skip the league stage. - **League stage:** Other Asian teams battle from September 24 to 26. - **Quarter-final opponents:** Decided after the league matches wrap up. The squad will base its campaign in Nagoya. With three wins, they can claim the title. Das knows the advantage is real, but he's not taking anything for granted. "We have to earn it," he said. ### Chasing History: The 2010 Gold and Beyond Bangladesh men's cricket won gold at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China. That remains the country's only gold medal in Asian Games history across all sports. Since then, the men's team has taken bronze in 2014 and 2023. The women's team has two silvers and one bronze. Das and several senior players missed the 2023 Asian Games because the schedule clashed with the 50-over ICC Cricket World Cup. Now, returning to the multi-sport event feels personal. "It gives us special motivation to repeat what happened in 2010," Das said. He also linked a strong showing in Japan to Bangladesh's bigger sporting future. A good result could boost the nation's pathway to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, where cricket will officially return. ### Limited Match Rhythm, But No Excuses Bangladesh heads into the tournament with mixed T20 form in 2026. The national side played eight T20 Internationals, winning three and losing five. They faced New Zealand, Australia, and Zimbabwe. Their last T20 success came in July 2026, a 2-1 series win over Zimbabwe. Das admitted that international players often play bilateral tours and franchise leagues, but the Asian Games is different. "Being in a multi-sport event with athletes from other disciplines adds extra incentive," he said. He urged his teammates to gain experience in global franchise leagues, pointing to former captains Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman as examples of players whose franchise appearances opened doors for Bangladeshi cricket. ### Late Squad Change: Saifuddin Out, Aliss In The squad suffered a setback just before departure. 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 first senior T20 call-up after strong performances for Bangladesh A in an unofficial One-Day International series in South Africa. His inclusion adds depth to Bangladesh's spin options. Das remains confident. "We have a job to do," he said. "The opportunity is rare, and we're ready."