Nagoya:The Bangladesh men's cricket team faced a disappointing end to their Asian Games campaign after a 63-run defeat to Sri Lanka in the bronze medal match at Korogi Sports Park in Nagoya, Japan.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, head coach Mohammad Salahuddin expressed his regret over the team's performance, apologizing to the nation for not meeting expectations. Bangladesh had aimed for gold in the tournament but was knocked out by Pakistan in the semifinals, leading to the bronze medal playoff.
Criticism followed the team after a poor showing against Sri Lanka, who fielded a largely second-string team. Despite reducing Sri Lanka to 21-4, Bangladesh allowed them to recover and post a total of 165-9. The Bangladesh chase faltered early, with key players Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Saif Hasan, and captain Liton Das dismissed for ducks, ultimately collapsing for 102 runs.
Salahuddin acknowledged the bowling and batting failures, noting particularly poor performances from key bowlers and the loss of multiple wickets during the power play. This result marked the first time neither the men's nor women's teams from Bangladesh won a medal in cricket since its inclusion in the Asian Games.
Reflecting on the defeat, captain Liton Das defended his teammates while admitting the team's shortcomings. He emphasized their intention to learn from this setback and improve in future competitions.