Bangladesh’s tour of Sri Lanka has already exposed familiar problems with the bat. Sunday’s 99-run defeat in Pallekele sealed a third successive ODI series loss in nine months and, with the first T20I looming on Thursday, there is scarcely any breathing space for reflection. Inevitably, attention turns to Litton Das, the T20I captain who was omitted after the opening ODI in Colombo and is now trying to halt a worrying dip in form.
Since October he has managed 218 runs in 12 T20Is at 18.16, and Bangladesh have lost back-to-back T20I series against the UAE and Pakistan under his leadership. While the ODI side battled through the third match in Pallekele, Litton was in the nets with the T20 squad, looking for rhythm that has eluded him for almost two years.
“For me, every series and every match is important,” Litton said. “Wherever I play, I try my best. That’s all I can do. But sometimes, failures come, and the success rate hasn’t been good. This is part of life. There are players who succeed in one year and struggle in the next. Understanding why that happens is important, and I hope to find out and overcome it.”
He accepts the reasons for his omission earlier in the week. “I didn’t play good ODI cricket, and that’s why I was on the bench. During that time [third ODI], I practised for T20Is, and I will try to use that preparation in the T20I series.”
The 31-year-old knows a productive domestic stint remains his likeliest route back into the 50-over side. “As a professional, I have to adjust, and I believe I do that well. They gave me opportunities in the ODI format, but I couldn’t capitalise on it. Hopefully, I will play domestic cricket, score runs, and maybe they will call me again. I have been playing T20Is, and I hope I can make a comeback.”
The selectors, for their part, insist faith in Litton was grounded in more than bare numbers. Chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain, speaking in Pallekele, explained the panel’s reasoning and the wider hole left by a trio of senior departures. “We lost Shakib, Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim in quick succession, so we need time to fill the gap in the middle order,” Ashraf said. “Litton had a bit of time to return to good form after the Champions Trophy. We also felt that since he did well in the Test series [against Sri Lanka], he could fit into the ODI middle-order, given our gap in experience. He has a bit of experience, so we designed the middle order with Litton in mind. We will definitely be questioned if the man we kept faith in didn’t give us the due returns.
“We picked him based on what we needed in the series. Performance is not always stat-based. Selectors’ confidence is a factor.”
Ashraf conceded that the decision had not paid off, yet he stopped short of closing the door. Litton, he reminded reporters, has served Bangladesh cricket for a decade and remains “one of our finest batters”, even if that class has been hidden of late.
From a purely numbers standpoint, Bangladesh require immediate runs at the top and solidity in the middle, whatever the format. Litton’s return to form would tick both boxes. Whether a handful of practice sessions and the shorter format’s freedoms can unlock that touch is another matter, but the opportunity begins on Thursday evening in Colombo.
