Bangladesh Cricket Team Faces Setback as Saifuddin Withdraws from Asian Games

New Delhi, September 21 (Daily Kiran) : The Bangladesh cricket team has encountered a significant setback ahead of the Asian Games 2026, set to commence on September 24. All-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin has been ruled out of the tournament due to a hamstring injury in his right leg. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has informed the Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) about Saifuddin's unavailability.A replacement will be announced after receiving approval from the Games Authority. According to a report from Cricbuzz, the national team's physiotherapist, Baijedul Islam Khan, stated that Saifuddin complained of pain in his right hamstring during a practice session on September 19. An MRI confirmed the injury, and he will require approximately three weeks of rehabilitation for recovery. Saifuddin, who began his international career in April 2017, last played for the national team during the tour of Zimbabwe in July.He recently participated in an 'A' series against South Africa, where he played an unofficial Test and two One Day Internationals. In his career so far, Saifuddin has taken 42 wickets in 30 ODIs and 57 wickets in 51 T20 matches. He has also scored two half-centuries in ODIs. In the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), he has played 76 matches, claiming 96 wickets. The right-arm bowler has featured in 38 first-class matches, taking 63 wickets, and has claimed 228 wickets in 148 List-A games.With a century in first-class cricket, he has accumulated 1,393 runs, while in List-A cricket, he has scored 1,825 runs. Bangladesh's cricket team is scheduled to play their quarter-final match on September 29 during the Asian Games 2026. The semi-finals will take place on October 1, followed by the final and bronze medal matches on October 3, all hosted at the Nishin Kurogi Sports Park.