Never underestimate the opponent - Salahuddin warns Bangladesh players ahead of Malaysia clash

Mohammad Salahuddin, Bangladesh head coach, on Sunday warned his players not to get complacent against Malaysia as they prepare to take on them in the first quarter-final of Asian Games 2026, scheduled on September 29. Bangladesh's opening day practice session was disrupted by rain.

Bangladesh's opening game against Malaysia can also be affected by rain due to lack of proper drainage system in the cricket field. Due to the same reason Bangladesh women’s national cricket team’s opening game against China was abandoned.

“Even if there is no rain on the match day, still the game can be affected due to lack of proper drainage system, as a part of the ground remains spongy and you cannot play there despite the wicket remaining unaffected,” an official of Bangladesh Olympic Association told Cricbuzz.

However, Salahuddin insisted that they cannot let themselves be distracted by those thoughts

“I will be very happy if the match happens, because if you suddenly play matches after five-seven days then it becomes very difficult. So the first match is very important for us,” Salahuddin told reporters in Japan on Sunday. “Here you don't really have much opportunity to practice. If you can play matches, then you will actually understand what your condition is.

"We have a good idea of the team, I think it will be a good match. I know everything (about Malaysia) because I have worked in Malaysia for a long time, we know a lot about Malaysia,” he said. “There can be upsets in such tournaments because the game is played on the same wicket again and again, so the toss can be a factor a lot of the time.

“We know that we have to win by playing and we are preparing mentally accordingly,” he said. “You should never underestimate the opponents. It is also a pressure match because it is a knockout stage. There will always be pressure in the knockout stage. So we should be serious about that match, we can think about the next one later.

“For a long time we have been playing together with these players. We actually know whose role is what. So, wherever they are playing, they have been playing in the same position for a long time, now who knows what I have to do at what moment. So here, I think that when I know my role, then it will be very convenient for me to apply for it. I think all my players know whose role is what and who will play how,” he concluded.

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