Najmul Hossain Shanto has been ruled out of the ongoing Asian Games after four days of fever left the Bangladesh batter too weak to recover in time for the latter stages of the tournament.
Shanto has been suffering from a low-grade fever since arriving in Japan, with Bangladesh Cricket Board physiotherapist Bayejidul Islam Khan revealing that the illness began during his flight.
“Shanto has been suffering from fever since he arrived from the flight. In fact, the fever started while he was still on the flight. So far, the fever has been fluctuating, but it has remained low-grade. After four days of fever, his body has become quite weak,” Bayejidul said in a voice message.
Shanto underwent blood tests on Monday, the fourth day of his illness. The results showed some infectious agents in his body, while tests for influenza and Covid-19 came back negative.
Given his continued fever and physical weakness, the medical team believes Shanto will not recover in time to play in the tournament.
“We think he will not be available until the final. That is why he is being sent back home,” Bayejidul said.
The development was confirmed to the media on Monday by the press attaché of Bangladesh’s Asian Games contingent. Shanto is expected to return home on Tuesday on the earliest available flight.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), however, is yet to make an official announcement regarding the 27-year-old’s withdrawal.
Shanto was set to make his return to T20 cricket in the Asian Games after last playing a T20I against the UAE in May 2025.
Bangladesh will face Malaysia in the men’s quarter-final on Tuesday at Korogi Sports Park in Nagoya, Japan. Their preparations have also been disrupted by persistent rain, with Monday’s practice session forced to move to a football field.
