Batsman Liton Das is perhaps the man facing the most criticism for the five-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka despite Bangladesh being dominant in most part of the game. Bangladesh batting first in the game at Sharjah International Stadium on Sunday had put on a fighting total, 170 losing four wickets, riding on half centuries by Mohammad Naim and Mushfiqur Rahim.
Defending the total, Bangladesh slipped by two crucial dropped catches, both involving Liton.
Carith Asalanka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa were the force behind Sri Lanka’s successful chase, this however had come at the back of Asalanka being dropped on 63 by Liton while Rajapaksa got dropped on 14 again by the same fielder. Alanaka left the field unbeaten on 80 snatching victory for Sri Lanka while Rajapaksa before dismissal in the 19th over smashed 53 off just 31 balls.
The match losing catch drops by Liton came at the back of his immense inconsistency with the bat. Liton is considered as one of the most talented batsmen in the Bangladesh dressing room but as it has been, the right-handed batsman has not been able to cement his place despite being in and around the fold since 2015.
Liton since March 2021 has played 13 T20Is with best scores of 33 against New Zealand at home and 29 against Papua New Guinea in the T20 World Cup qualifiers in Oman. The strike of 127.62 in 41 innings since debut may not look that bad but the average of 19.17 and the irregularity despite being in the team for more than six years has been raising eyebrows for some time now.
The story is pretty identical in ODIs as well. Considering the last 10 ODI innings, Liton has not been able to convert the starts except the 102 runs against Zimbabwe in Harare in July this year.
Discussion is wide over the backing that comes to Liton from the head coach Russell Domingo. It is understood that influential figures of the Bangladesh Cricket Board [BCB] including Nazmul Hasan has on several occasions questioned selection of Liton and many have been in opinion to give the batsman a break with task to work on. But Domingo has been vocal in carrying the 27-year-old hailing from Dinajpur with the team irrespective of his form.
Many consider this mindset of Domingo is however doing more damage than the favor for Liton. The media and the supporters have been vocal in giving Liton the required break. The opinion is only getting stronger with each game that Liton fails.
Speaking of Bangladesh team’s situation in the ongoing T20 World, the management is in dilemma over finding a partner to Mohammad Naim.
The left-handed batsman looks to have overcome the trouble with the form having scored two half-centuries already – 64 against PNG and a 62 against Sri Lanka on Sunday. With Liton struggling, the option in specialist opener only remains in Soumya Sarkar who is also not in the best of the shape.
Then there is also the devoted believe in the Bangladesh dressing room of having an opening pair in left and right-handed combination. Having Naim-Soumya batting together, simply doesn’t go with the team’s theory.
The Bangladesh cricket team stationed in a Dubai hotel chose to rest the day following their defeat against Sri Lanka. The team on Monday remained at the hotel, inside the bio-security bubble and limited to recovery sessions under a gloomy atmosphere.
It is understood that BCB president Nazmul spoke to senior cricketer of the team Shakib al Hasan over the outcome in Sri Lanka game and discussed about the necessary steps for the next game.
Bangladesh in their second game of the Super 12 phase will play England at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. Bangladesh team on Tuesday will travel to the venue for a practice session and return to hotel in Dubai.