Bangladesh have suffered a setback ahead of their Asian Games cricket quarter-final against Malaysia, with Nazmul Hossain Shanto ruled out of the tournament after falling ill.
The left-handed batter became unwell less than a day before Bangladesh were due to take on Malaysia in the last-eight stage. The Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) confirmed his withdrawal in a statement after medical assessments were carried out by the Bangladesh team doctor, a Bangladesh Cricket Board physiotherapist and members of the local medical team.
Shanto developed a high fever and was taken to a hospital in Nagoya for medical attention. According to Major Imroz Ahmed (retd), vice-president of the BOA, the medical assessment concluded that the batter needed rest and was not in a condition to play competitive cricket.
“Shanto has a high fever. He was taken to a hospital in Nagoya. He needs rest and is not in a condition to play, so the decision was taken to send him home,” Imroz Ahmed said.
Shanto is scheduled to return to Bangladesh the following day. His withdrawal means he will miss the quarter-final against Malaysia, which is set to be played at Korogi Sports Club in Nishin at 11am Bangladesh time.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has not yet announced whether another player will be brought into the squad to replace Shanto. Any replacement decision could affect the team’s batting combination ahead of the knockout match, particularly given Shanto’s role as a top-order batter.
The timing of the illness makes the setback particularly significant. With the quarter-final only hours away, Bangladesh have limited time to adjust their plans and settle on their batting line-up. The team will have to prepare for the knockout fixture without one of its established batters.
Bangladesh and Malaysia have met only once previously in international cricket. That encounter also came in the Asian Games, when the two sides faced each other in the quarter-finals of the 2023 edition.
Bangladesh narrowly prevailed in that match, winning by just two runs. The result underlined how closely contested the previous meeting was and provides a recent competitive reference point between the two sides.
This time, the stakes are again high. The quarter-final is a straight knockout fixture, meaning the winner will progress to the semi-finals while the losing side will see its campaign end at this stage.
For Bangladesh, attention will now turn to how the team reshapes its batting line-up in Shanto’s absence. The medical decision was taken after consultation with the relevant medical teams, while the focus for the squad is now on being ready for the Malaysia challenge.
