Nagoya:Bangladesh coach Mohammad Salahuddin has advised his players not to underestimate Malaysia in their Asian Games cricket quarterfinal at Korogi Sports Park. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Salahuddin emphasized that tournament conditions can lead to unexpected results, noting the impact of playing on the same wicket repeatedly and the potential influence of the toss. He stressed the importance of focusing on each match without presuming victory in advance. Bangladesh secured a direct entry into the quarterfinal due to their superior ICC rankings, while Malaysia advanced from the group stages. The Bangladesh team prepared for about 10 days at home, playing two warm-up matches before traveling to Japan. They also hold confidence from their Under-23 team's recent series victories over Malaysia. In the 2022 Asian Games quarterfinal, Bangladesh narrowly defeated Malaysia by two runs. Despite sending a strong squad this time, Salahuddin emphasized concentrating on the quarterfinal rather than fut ure matches. Rain has already affected several events at the Games, and if the quarterfinal is abandoned due to rain, Bangladesh would advance to the semifinals based on their higher ranking. Salahuddin, however, prefers the match to take place, as it helps maintain competitive momentum. With Bangladesh's men's team under pressure to secure a medal, especially after the women's team failed to do so, Salahuddin acknowledged the high expectations. He noted that the players are motivated by the nation's hopes for a medal in the Games.
