Illness rules out Shanto

Bangladesh batter Najmul Hossain Shanto has been ruled out of the Asian Games cricket due to illness. The experienced left-handed batsman is returning home suffering from a fever. The Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) said on Monday.

Shanto will return to the country on the first flight today. The Bangladesh Olympic Association confirmed this in a press release.

Major (Retd.) Imroz Ahmed, Vice-President of the Bangladesh Olympic Association and Chef de Mission of the Bangladesh contingent at the Asian Games, said, “Shanto is running a high fever.

He was taken to a hospital in Nagoya. He needs rest and is not in a condition to play; therefore, the decision has been made to send him back home.”

Bangladesh cricket team Manager Nafis Iqbal said, “The illness is not so severe that he cannot travel alone. A decision has not yet been made on whether another player will be brought into the squad to replace him.”

Physiotherapist Bayezid Islam said, “He had been feeling feverish since the flight over. The temperature has been fluctuating.

Blood tests were conducted, and the results came back negative for both Dengue and COVID-19; however, there is an infection in his blood. As he is physically very weak, playing is not possible, so he is returning home.”

Two players were ruled out of the Bangladesh squad for the Asian Games even before taking the field., All-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin was sidelined due to injury; ‘mystery spinner’ Alis Al Islam has gone to Japan as his replacement.