Bangladesh is all set to feature in the eight-team Asia Cup as they have announced a 16-member squad. Liton Das will lead the side in this tournament as recently he became the first captain to win T20i series versus Pakistan and Sri Lanka, respectively.
Although Bangladesh’s Asia Cup journey hasn’t been filled with trophies, it has been full of character development opportunities. Bangladesh has frequently been the underdog over the years, surprising more powerful opponents by punching above its weight. Batting mainstays like Mushfiqur, Tamim, and Shakib have put on outstanding performances, including memorable knocks that helped the team win important games.
Bangladesh enters the Asia Cup with confidence. After losing a T20i series to UAE and Pakistan, the side managed to win series against Pakistan (home), Sri Lanka (away), and Netherlands (home).
Squad:
Litton Das (c), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Saif Hassan, Tawhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali Anik, Shamim Hossain, Quazi Nurul Hasan Sohan, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Shaif Uddin
STANDBY (For Asia Cup Only): Soumya Sarkar, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Tanvir Islam, Hasan Mahmud
After nearly three years, wicketkeeper-batter Quazi Nurul Hasan Sohan has been called up to the Bangladesh T20I team, marking his comeback to the team.
Experienced pacers Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed are also the team’s mainstays among the seasoned players.
Tanvir Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, and Soumya Sarkar have been named as standby players for the forthcoming Twenty20 International match.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who was a member of the team that played in the series victory over Pakistan along with Muhammad Naim, is a notable absence from the most recent squad.
Strengths:
Over the past year, Bangladesh have improved their hitting ability and the most of the credit goes to the openers Tanzid Hasan and Parvez Hossain. With Towhid and Jaker batting in the middle and lower order, interesting things can be expected from the batting order of the Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s biggest weapon is its variety with the ball. Mustafizur Rahman brings death-over expertise, Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam add pace, while Mehidy Hasan and Nasum Ahmed cover spin in middle overs. This blend of left-arm pace and spin options is well-suited to UAE conditions.
Weakness:
Bangladesh often struggle when early wickets fall. Beyond Liton Das, their batting lacks a proven match-finisher. While players like Shamim Hossain and Jaker Ali have talent, they remain untested at crunch moments.
Unlike stronger T20 teams, Bangladesh’s lower middle order lacks consistent six-hitters. Without a reliable finisher, posting or chasing totals above 180 may be difficult.
Bangladesh’s history in Asia Cups shows they often compete well in group stages but falter in knockout matches. Mental resilience against sides like Afghanistan or Sri Lanka remains a question mark.
Players to watch-out for:
Towhid Hridoy
Tanzim Hasan Sakib
Nurul Hasan
Tanzid Hasan
Bangladesh’s bowling variety and spin depth are genuine strengths, making them competitive in UAE conditions. However, their fragile middle order and lack of finishing power could hold them back against stronger opponents. If the youngsters fire with the bat, they could surprise but consistency will decide how far they go.
