Salahuddin warns Litton and Co: ‘Upsets can happen’ against Malaysia

Bangladesh senior assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin has warned his side that an “upset can happen” against Malaysia, despite a 17-place gap between the two teams in the ICC T20I rankings.

Bangladesh are currently ranked eighth, while Malaysia sit 25th.

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Salahuddin said used pitches and unpredictable weather could make the Asian Games opener a challenging contest, urging his players to remain fully focused on the task at hand.

Bangladesh, led by Litton Das, are scheduled to face Malaysia in their Asian Games opener in Japan on Tuesday at 11:00am Bangladesh time.

However, persistent rain since the team's arrival has raised concerns over whether the match will go ahead, with Salahuddin speaking to the media on Sunday as rain continued to fall.

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A complete washout would send Bangladesh straight into the semi-finals because of their superior ICC ranking. But Salahuddin made it clear that the Tigers would much rather secure their place in the last four by playing and winning the match on the field.

The senior assistant coach stressed that short-format tournaments such as the Asian Games can produce unexpected results, particularly when teams are forced to play repeatedly on the same surface.

“I have worked in Malaysia for a long time, so I have a fairly good idea about their team and cricket,” Salahuddin told reporters.

He also pointed to the condition of the pitches as a potential factor.

“Upsets can happen in this type of tournament because matches are played repeatedly on the same wicket. As a result, the toss often becomes a major factor,” he said.

Bangladesh will have reason to remain cautious given their previous encounter with Malaysia at the Asian Games. In the quarter-finals of the last edition, the Tigers narrowly defended a target of 116 to secure a two-run victory.

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Malaysia are now under the supervision of former Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore, adding another layer of familiarity between the two sides.

Recalling that close contest, Salahuddin urged his players to concentrate on performance rather than looking too far ahead or calculating their chances of winning a medal.

“Every single match is extremely important. We shouldn't assume a win beforehand; we have to win it on the field. That is how we are mentally preparing ourselves,” he said.

With Bangladesh's women's cricket team returning without a medal, expectations are now firmly on the men's side to deliver a gold-medal challenge.

Salahuddin, however, believes the expectations of the country will serve as motivation rather than pressure.

“The whole country is looking at us to bring home a medal. The boys have that motivation, and we understand the weight of this responsibility. There is no shortage of motivation on our part, and Inshallah, we will do well,” he concluded.