Bangladesh ODI captain Litton Das has issued a call for greater accountability from his senior batting core as the team gears up for a tri-nation series in the UAE. The competition begins on October 17 in Abu Dhabi, where Bangladesh will face Zimbabwe before taking on the tournament hosts, Afghanistan, on October 21. Bangladesh’s batting performances against both sides in recent ODI assignments have been a cause for concern. “Really, it’s a big opportunity for me as a captain.
The skipper’s concerns are rooted in recent struggles, noting that the squad failed to complete their full 50-over innings in any of their three recent ODI matches against Afghanistan or during their previous series against Zimbabwe. Addressing the team’s top six or seven batters, Litton emphasized that the responsibility lies with them to finish games effectively. He urged his players to move past previous setbacks with a positive mindset, asserting that dwelling on past failures will not serve their preparation for the challenges ahead. We could not bat for 50 overs here (against Afghanistan in the ODIs) and we could not do it in Zimbabwe either,” Litton said. “As a batting unit, our responsibility is to make sure that those of us batting in the top six or seven can finish the game.”. Instead, he urged his teammates to maintain a positive mindset and focus on the challenges ahead. “What has happened previously can help us prepare and we cannot keep focusing on the fact that we played badly before and will do so again. And we will try to play positively.”, our mindset has to remain positive.
As he prepares to lead the side in his first full-time tenure as ODI captain, Litton views this tournament as a critical building block for future events like the Asia Cup and the ODI World Cup. He noted that while the Asia Cup involves a larger field, the competitive intensity and pressure of a tri-series provide an excellent benchmark for the squad. When asked about his expectations for the title, Litton expressed optimism, stating that if the team plays quality cricket, winning the trophy is a realistic goal.
The squad for this series includes the inclusion of mystery spinner Aliss Al Islam, a move Litton believes is well-timed. Aliss, who debuted in T20 international cricket against Sri Lanka during the Asian Games, earned his call-up after a standout domestic campaign. He finished as the leading wicket-taker in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League, securing 24 wickets across 10 matches for Prime Bank Cricket Club. “Definitely, if you look at Aliss, he has been very good in white-ball cricket.
Litton expressed confidence in the young bowler’s potential to contribute immediately at the international level. He suggested that integrating Aliss into the national setup now will be mutually beneficial, allowing the spinner to learn from his peers while strengthening the team’s bowling options. Litton highlighted that Aliss has already validated his capabilities within the domestic T20 circuit, making his elevation to the ODI squad a logical next step for his development.
