A file photo from July 7, 2027 shows Bangladesh T20 captain Liton Das batting in the nets during a training session at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy. | AFP file photo.
Bangladesh T20 captain Liton Das is currently experiencing a challenging period in his career, grappling with difficulties related to both his captaincy and his batting form.
Liton was handed the T20 captaincy permanently in May after previously carrying on the role on an interim basis.
Najmul Hossain Shanto stepped down from the T20 role, citing his intention to focus more on his batting in the format.
The series against Sri Lanka, which starts on Thursday with the first game in Pallekele, would be Liton’s third since he became the captain.
Bangladesh lost both of their previous T20 series against the UAE and Pakistan, suffering a clean sweep at the hands of the latter.
However, Liton is also having a rough patch in his batting across the formats, especially in white balls.
He was dropped from the squad of the last Champions Trophy before making a comeback in the latest series against Sri Lanka.
But a four-ball duck resulted in Liton getting dropped again after the first match of the series.
The selector panel earlier mentioned that Liton had been picked to accumulate some game time ahead of the T20 series, but he was forced to be benched.
‘Look, I didn’t play good ODI cricket, and that’s why I was on the bench. During that time, I tried to practise for T20s, and I will try to use that preparation in the games,’ Liton said ahead of the first T20I against Sri Lanka.
‘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,’ he added.
‘Hopefully, I will play domestic cricket, score runs, and maybe they will call me again. I have been playing T20s, and I hope we can make a comeback,’ he said.
Liton had two 40-plus scores in his last five T20 innings. But both innings came in a losing cause.
However, his last fifty in the format came more than a year ago. And now, as he’s the captain of the team, the onus will be on him to bring the results too.
‘For me, every series and every match is important. Wherever I play, I try my best. That’s all I can do,’ said the 30-year-old.
‘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 added.
The team management earlier said that Liton would carry on the captaincy at least until next year’s T20 World Cup.
So, one can easily presume that Liton would get some time in terms of setting the right balance for the team as well as finding his own form.
But Liton should know that time could run out at any moment. He will have to bring something that can inspire the team in a tough period.
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