Litton Kumar Das has been named the captain of the Bangladesh cricket team for the upcoming one-off Test match against Afghanistan. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a 15-member squad, which includes two uncapped players, Shahadat Hossain and Mushfik Hasan. Litton, who led Bangladesh’s ODI squad against India last year, will take charge as the 12th Test captain in the country, filling in for the injured Shakib al Hasan. The BCB expressed confidence in Litton’s leadership abilities and believes he will lead the team from the front.
Litton Das has been entrusted with the responsibility of leading the Test squad in the absence of Shakib al Hasan. BCB Chief Selector Minhajul Abedin stated that Litton possesses all the necessary qualities to captain the Test team and considers it a significant honor for him. Having previously led the ODI squad, Litton’s elevation to the Test captaincy provides an opportunity to assess his leadership skills at the highest level. Despite his limited experience in leading domestic teams, the BCB believes Litton will rise to the occasion.
The squad announcement also introduced two promising newcomers, Shahadat Hossain Dipu and Mushfik Hasan. According to Minhajul Abedin, both players have been on the BCB’s radar since their Under-19 days and have been part of the High Performance Unit. Shahadat, a 21-year-old right-handed middle-order batsman from Chattogram Division, made his first-class debut in 2021. He has shown promise with 1265 runs from 20 first-class matches, including two centuries and ten half-centuries. Mushfik Hasan, a 20-year-old fast bowler from Rangpur Division, has impressed with 49 wickets in 13 matches, including three five-wicket hauls. Both players recently featured in the unofficial Test series against West Indies A and performed well.
Minhajul Abedin expressed confidence in Mahmudul Hasan’s recent resurgence, highlighting his unbeaten century in the final match of the three-match four-day series against West Indies A. Mahmudul’s impressive performance during that game indicated that he has moved past his lean patch. The team management expects him to carry this form into the upcoming Test match against Afghanistan.
Despite his recent rehabilitation for a side strain, Taskin Ahmed has been included in the squad. Taskin missed the Test series against Ireland and the subsequent ODIs due to his injury. The right-arm pace bowler has been progressing well in his recovery and bowled at full strength during the team’s practice session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. The BCB is optimistic that Taskin will regain full fitness before the Test match.
To provide further support to the team, the BCB has appointed Allan Brown as a mind trainer for a two-week period. Brown has commenced his activities with meetings with several players, aiming to enhance their mental preparation and focus ahead of the series.
