Bangladesh Test captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto has been ruled out of the Asian Games after falling ill with a persistent fever in Japan.

Shanto travelled to Japan with the Bangladesh contingent to take part in the Asian Games but became unwell after his arrival. Following assessments by the Bangladesh contingent’s doctor, BCB physiotherapist and the local medical team, he has been advised to withdraw from the Games and return home.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said Shanto will leave Japan for Dhaka on Tuesday.

National team physiotherapist Bayezidul Islam Khan said Shanto had been suffering from a fever since the team arrived in Japan.

“Shanto has been suffering from a fever since we arrived in Japan. The fever has continued for more than four days. It is a mild fever, and tests conducted here found evidence of an infection. However, his influenza and COVID-19 tests were negative,” Bayezidul said.

“He is naturally very weak at the moment and is unlikely to recover sufficiently to be fit to participate in the Asian Games. Therefore, he is being sent back home,” he added.

Shanto is the second Bangladesh cricketer to be ruled out of the Asian Games. Saifuddin was previously withdrawn from the squad due to injury, with off-spinner Aliss Al Islam called up as his replacement.

The BCB has not yet announced a replacement for Shanto.