Bangladesh batsman Najmul Hossain Shanto has missed the Asian Games in Japan due to a prolonged fever.
Since Shanto came to Japan with the Bangladesh team and settled in Nagoya he has been ill and has been fighting a fever for the last four days, it is reported.
His ailment has now made training and competition difficult for him, and the players’ committee decided that he would be unable to come back just in time to play the rest of the tournament.
Bangladesh team physiotherapist Bijedal Islam Khan said Shanto has been suffering from constant fever and has become physically weak due to the same.
Shanto will be coming home soon as the team physiotherapist said he is unlikely to be completely fit in the stipulated time.
The development comes after Bangladesh had to withdraw from their quarter-final against Malaysia in the cricket event due to rain and slipped into the semi-finals at the Asian Games.
The match was to be held but due to weather conditions, Bangladesh advanced to the next phase based on their rank.
Now, Bangladesh will take on Pakistan in the first semi-final of Asian Games cricket on October 1. The match will decide one of the two finalists for the gold medal.
The second semi-final will also be played on the same day against Sri Lanka for India to qualify for the final.
Shanto’s absence is a blow to Bangladesh as they prepare to take on Pakistan in their semi-final. The team will now have to part ways with one of its key batsmen, who has taken a break to get back home due to his health concerns, as they embark on the Asian Games campaign.