Preparations for the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya have suffered a significant blow as Bangladesh fast-bowling all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin has been ruled out of the squad due to a hamstring injury. The setback comes while the national team has been sweating it out at Mirpur, splitting into two camps for internal practice matches in anticipation of a gold-medal campaign in Japan.
Saifuddin sustained the injury while representing the Bangladesh A team during a four-day fixture against South Africa, where he felt discomfort in his hamstring. Medical evaluations have subsequently confirmed that the injury will require a mandatory recovery period of approximately three weeks, effectively ending his participation in the continental multi-sport event. Sources within the team management revealed that a replacement has not yet been named. Because tournament squads must be submitted well in advance, the Bangladesh Cricket Board has formally approached the Bangladesh Olympic Association to clarify whether squad alterations are permitted at this late stage.
Compounding the team’s fitness concerns, returning top-order batter Najmul Hossain has also encountered an unexpected physical issue. Having recently fought his way back into the T20 setup after an eighteen-month absence, Najmul suffered a laceration and grazing on the little toe of his left foot, leaving him unable to comfortably wear cricket boots. During the internal practice match at Mirpur, he sat out of batting duties entirely, restricted instead to running barefoot along the boundary edge as medical staff monitored his progress.
Despite these disruptions, the team’s departure schedule remains firmly in place. The national squad is scheduled to board a flight to Japan on September 24 to finalise their acclimatisation and preparations. Bangladesh will enter the tournament directly at the quarter-final stage, scheduled for 11:00 am on September 28, where their opponent will be determined by the preceding group stage fixtures involving Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Nepal, and Oman. Should the team secure a victory in the quarter-final clash, they will advance to the first semi-final, slated for 9:00 am on October 1, where a formidable encounter against Sri Lanka potentially awaits.