This tournament is a rare opportunity: Litton Das
Bangladesh skipper Litton Das said the team has prepared well for their upcoming Asian Games campaign and are targetting the final
Bangladesh T20I skipper Litton Das said on Wednesday (September 23) that the team's target is to reach the Asian Games final as they prepare to depart Dhaka for Japan. Bangladesh will leave for Japan on September 24 in two groups, with the first group of players and coaching staff scheduled to depart in the evening and the rest later that night.
Bangladesh won gold in the men's cricket event at the 2010 Asian Games, which remains the country's only gold medal at the Games.
Litton said the team had prepared well for their upcoming Asian Games campaign. The squad underwent fitness and skill sessions before playing two practice matches, which proved particularly useful after a long break from T20 cricket.
"I feel we are very well prepared, and the target is definitely clear. Since we are going into a tournament, we want to reach the final and hopefully do something good there," Litton told reporters after taking part in Bangladesh's second practice match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Wednesday.
"The preparation has been very good. We have had the opportunity to play two practice games after a long time. As you know, our last T20I series was in Zimbabwe, so these practice games have given us an opportunity to build our bonding as a team," he said.
Litton said the players were aware of the expectations, particularly after Bangladesh have struggled to win medals across several other events at the Asian Games.
"Of course, everyone will have expectations. In fact, as a player, I will also go there expecting to do something good. One thing I can say is that our players are very eager to play this tournament because it does not come around every year.
"You get franchise leagues or national team assignments regularly, but this tournament is a rare opportunity. Every player is excited, and we will all try to fulfil what would be a bigger dream for us," said Litton.
The Bangladesh team have also been keeping a close eye on the women's cricket matches at the Asian Games to gather information about the conditions ahead of their campaign in Nagoya. "Conditions we are trying to assess. We have watched the women's games. We have gathered what we need from those games,” Litton added.
Bangladesh will begin their campaign with a direct quarter-final on September 29.
