‎ Shanto ruled out of Asian Games with fever

Bangladesh suffered a major blow ahead of their Asian Games quarterfinal against Malaysia as batter Najmul Hossain Shanto was ruled out of the competition after falling ill with fever.

“Please be informed that our cricketer Nazmul Hussain Shanto is unwell,” the Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) said in a message to the media on Monday.

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“After assessment by the Bangladeshi contingent doctor and BCB physiotherapist, as well as the local medical team, it has been advised that he has to be ruled out from the Asian Games.

“He is returning home tomorrow on the earliest available flight.

“On behalf of the Bangladesh Olympic Association, CDM Bangladesh contingent Major Imroze Ahmed (retd) wished Shanto all the best and a quick full recovery, as well as safe travel to his destination,” it added.

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Shanto, a former T20I captain, last represented Bangladesh in the format against the UAE in Sharjah in May 2025. He was subsequently dropped from the side and had been out of the T20I setup for more than a year before returning to the squad for the Asian Games.

Ahead of their Japan trip, Bangladesh played two practice matches in Mirpur, but Shanto missed both games due to an abrasion.

Bangladesh will face Malaysia in their quarterfinal on Tuesday. If the match is washed out due to rain, as Monday's two quarterfinals were, Bangladesh will advance to the semifinals without playing and face Pakistan on October 1.

“If the match doesn’t take place, we can’t do anything. No one has control over the rain,” Bangladesh captain Litton Das said on Monday.

“I think the wicket will be favourable for the bowlers. We will try to play our best bowlers, and overall the team combination can be five bowlers and seven batters,” he concluded.