Saif Hassan is all set to lead Bangladesh men’s cricket team in the upcoming Asian Games 2023, scheduled in Hangzhou, China between September 23 and October 8.

“Saif is expected to lead the squad in the Asian Games,” said a BCB official adding that they could not form the squad yet as some of the players they planned to pick for the Games were drafted in the Asia Cup squad.

The BCB had initial plans to have Afif Hossain, Mahedi Hasan and Tanzid Hasan Tamim for the Games and they also sent their names for government order.

The members of the squad are expected to train with the High Performance Unit in Bogura from September 7.

The men’s cricket event at the Asian Games 2023 will be played in the T20 format and the matches will be held from September 28 to October 8 at the Zhejiang University of Technology Pingfeng Cricket Field.

Cricket featured at the Asian Games two times, in 2010 and 2014 respectively. The sport was left out of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.

Bangladesh won the men’s cricket gold medal at the 2010 Asian Games while Sri Lanka emerged as champions in 2014. In women’s cricket, Pakistan won the gold medal in both editions.

Meanwhile, the women’s team will play their games in a 10-day window between September 19 and 28.

The Asian Games, which was initially supposed to take place in 2022, was postponed for a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bangladesh’s probable squad for Asian Games: Saif Hassan (capt), Tanzim Hasan Shakib, Yasir Ali, Jaker Ali Anik, Zakir Hasan, Mosaddek Hossain, Parvez Hossain Emon, Rakibul Hasan, Tanvir Islam, Ripon Mondol, Shahadat Hossain, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Mrittonjoy Chowdhury, Suman Khan and Rishad Hossain.