Bangladesh selector worried about T20I captain Litton Das’ white-ball form

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB)’s chief selector, Gazi Ashraf Hossain, showed concern about the T20I skipper for the West Indies tour- Litton Das’ form. The wicketkeeper-batter, captaining the side, was unable to open his account on the first game of the series. In the ODI series that preceded the T20I one, Das never touched the double-digit mark, showing a continuous decline in his white-ball form. 

"We also understand that the team has high expectations from Litton, given his quality as a batter. However, he hasn't been as consistent in white-ball cricket. Currently, he is our T20 captain, and a series is ongoing. 

I think it's not the ideal time to delve deeply into these matters. But I can say that we are definitely concerned about the way he is getting out,” Ashraf told reports as per Cricbuzz. 

The chief selector, who said he was not the one choosing the captain for the tour, also offered Das an option to either take a break or perform exceedingly in the last two T20Is and shut out his critics.  

“If his batting needs any adjustments in the future, the coaches are there to help, or if he needs a break, that can be arranged. Alternatively, he might make a comeback in the next two matches," said the 63-year-old, who played seven ODIs for Bangladesh between 1986 and 1990. 

Das’ last white-ball century came in March 2022 against Afghanistan. His last ODI fifty came in July 2023, while his last T20I fifty came in a losing cause against Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup 2024. 

Though the skipper did not perform, Bangladesh managed to win their first white-ball game of the tour after being whitewashed in the ODI series. The hero of the game for the Tigers, Mahedi Hasan, who took four wickets for 13 runs in his four overs, credited Hasan Mahmud for the victory. 

Praising the pacer who defended 10 runs in the last over in front of in-form Rovman Powell, Mahedi said, "Hasan proved it again and I still remember during an Ireland series, Hasan won the game for us in the death overs and I was having the feeling that Hasan can do it.”

"I don't know whether Hasan believed it or not but I always believed that Hasan can win the game for us and Alhamdulillah, Hasan bowled outstandingly in the last over,” he added. 

Bangladesh, who drew the Test series 1-1 and lost the ODIs 0-3, are looking to return home with at least one trophy to their name, and Mahedi was not shy to admit it after his team took the early lead in the three-match series. 

"Look we ended the Test series on a high note, and in the ODI series, we started well but couldn't finish it off in style. We [have] started well in the T20Is and we still have two more games, and we are ready to do anything to win the series," said the 29-year-old, who also scored an important 26 with the bat. 

The next match and the last one on December 17  and 19 (18 and 20 in India and Bangladesh), respectively, will be played at the same venue, Arnos Vale in St Vincent and the Grenadines. 

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