Litton keeps his spot in Test squad despite BCB chief suggesting a break

SRI LANKA TOUR OF BANGLADESH, 2024

Litton fell first ball in the second innings.

Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan on Tuesday said that out of form Litton Das should be rested in forthcoming second Test against Sri Lanka, scheduled at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium from March 30.

BCB national selection panel, however, kept Liton in the 15-member squad that was announced hours after Nazmul came up with the suggestion at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Liton, who is going through a rough patch, hogged all the spotlight in the second innings after he chose to play across the line and throw away his wicket by charging down the wicket to pacer Vishwa Fernando in the first ball despite coming down at 37-4 with only 15 minutes left in the third day's play.

"There is no reason to feel good about it. Winning or losing is not that important but the problem is how they played. Their mindset, attitude or shot selection was abominable," Nazmul told reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Tuesday (March 26).

"It felt like either they don't want to play this format or there is some other problem. These kinds of shot selection or mindset do not go with Test cricket. They are not children who have suddenly been taken into the ground and they have to be told about everything," he said.

"All of them know it. That hurt us and that is why I came here and am sitting with everyone here together," he said.

"We have been watching his performance from the last World Cup and we felt there is something wrong. That is why he was dropped from ODIs. A batter like him, one we depend on and he has performed, not like he can't play. He's a beautiful player. But something has been a problem and we have even dropped him from ODIs. There can't be a bigger signal than that. So there is a problem," he said.

"He (Liton) needs a break and that's why we took a decision and he was sent on a break. His Test stats, batting and scoring runs in Tests playing well is not something to be ignored. We know he needs a break and it's not like being dropped and that break was given to him but for some reason he was here.

"Bigger factor was that since Mushfiqur and Shakib aren't there and if Liton Das isn't there, considering everything he was included. Now the rest of it, we will see. We will discuss and the chief selector is also there. Let us talk and see what they are thinking," he added.