Litton Das urges senior batters to step up ahead of tri-series
Bangladesh captain Litton Das emphasises the need for top-order batters to take responsibility as the tri-series in the UAE begins on October 17.
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Bangladesh captain Litton Das will begin his full-time ODI captaincy tenure at the tri-series in the UAE, which starts on October 17, 2026. The tournament will feature Afghanistan and Zimbabwe alongside Bangladesh in a round-robin format, with each team playing the other once before the final on October 23. Bangladesh will face Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi on October 17 and Afghanistan on October 21.
Litton has identified batting consistency as a critical concern ahead of the competition. Bangladesh struggled to bat full innings in recent ODI series against both Afghanistan and Zimbabwe, a pattern the captain believes must change if the team is to compete effectively in the tri-series and prepare for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027.
"As senior players, we have to take responsibility. 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 quoted by Cricbuzz.
Senior batters must take responsibility, says Litton
The captain stressed the importance of maintaining a positive mindset and learning from past performances without allowing previous results to dictate future approach. Bangladesh must draw lessons from recent matches while moving forward with confidence in the tri-series.
"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. Our mindset has to remain positive, and we will try to play positively," Litton said.
Litton views tri-series as World Cup preparation
Litton views the tri-series as valuable preparation for major tournaments ahead. The captain acknowledged that while a tri-series involves fewer teams than the Asia Cup, the competitive intensity and pressure remain comparable to larger competitions.
"Really, it's a big opportunity for me as a captain. We have the World Cup and Asia Cup coming up. I think this is the best preparation for us. The Asia Cup will involve five or six teams, while in a tri-series we play three teams, but the pressure and other things are similar," Litton said.
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Aliss Al Islam's inclusion reflects domestic form
The Bangladesh captain highlighted the inclusion of Aliss Al Islam, who has received his maiden ODI call-up following strong performances in white-ball cricket. Aliss made his T20 international debut against Sri Lanka at the Asian Games and claimed 24 wickets across 10 matches for Prime Bank Cricket Club in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League, topping the tournament's wicket-taking charts. Litton expressed confidence in the young bowler's potential to contribute to the team and believes his domestic experience has prepared him well for international cricket.
“Definitely, if you look at Aliss, he has been very good in white-ball cricket. He has proved himself, especially in the T20 circuit in Bangladesh. I think this is the right time to bring him into the team. If he can learn a lot by staying with the team and contributing to Bangladesh, it will be beneficial for the team," said Litton.
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