Bangladesh T20 captain Liton Das is currently navigating a challenging phase in his cricket career, struggling with his performance as both a batsman and a leader. Permanent captaincy was bestowed upon him in May after he took on the interim role, following Najmul Hossain Shanto’s decision to step down to focus on his own batting.
The upcoming T20 series against Sri Lanka marks Liton’s third assignment since becoming the permanent captain. Bangladesh faced setbacks in their preceding T20 series, losing both to the UAE and experiencing a clean sweep at the hands of Pakistan.
Liton is dealing with a difficult spell with the bat, particularly in white-ball formats. After being omitted from the squad in the last Champions Trophy, he returned for the series against Sri Lanka but had a disappointing start, falling for a four-ball duck that led to his exclusion from the team again.
Despite this, Liton expressed a desire to persevere, stating, “I didn’t play good ODI cricket, and that’s why I was on the bench. I will try to use my preparation for T20s in the games.” He remains hopeful about regaining form through domestic cricket, explaining, “Hopefully, I will play domestic cricket, score runs, and maybe they will call me again.”
Although he recorded two scores over 40 in his last five T20 innings, both performances came in losing efforts, and he has not registered a fifty in over a year in this format. As captain, the pressure mounts on Liton to deliver results for his team.
“Every series and every match is important. I try my best, but sometimes failures happen. Understanding the reasons behind them is crucial, and I hope to overcome these challenges,” he reflected on his mindset.
The team management has affirmed Liton’s leadership role at least until the next T20 World Cup, which implies that he may have the opportunity to establish a cohesive team strategy while also rediscovering his own batting form.
This juncture may be pivotal for Liton, offering a chance to inspire his teammates during this testing period, as a comeback could not only revitalize his career but also bring renewed hope to the Bangladeshi cricket team.