Litton backs Tigers to go all the way in tri-series
Newly appointed ODI captain Litton Das remains optimistic about Bangladesh's chances in the tri-nation series against Zimbabwe and Afghanistan, stressing the importance of solid batting performances.
"If we play good cricket, why not?" Newly appointed ODI captain Litton Das fell back on the age-old wisdom that Bangladesh players so often reach for in press conferences when asked to predict positive outcomes regarding the tri-nation series against Zimbabwe and Afghanistan.
At Friday’s pre-match press conference ahead of the series opener in Abu Dhabi, Litton faced questions about the Tigers’ recent batting struggles against both opponents. Both teams have had the better of Bangladesh in recent ODI series, meaning the captain’s optimism will count for little if the batting fails to deliver.
Bangladesh suffered a 3-0 whitewash against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi in October 2025 and subsequently lost 2-1 away to Zimbabwe in July. While the team enjoyed four consecutive home series wins under previous captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz, the batting crumbled away from home on both tours.
During the Harare assignment against Zimbabwe, the Tigers folded for 116 while chasing 141 and were skittled out for 234 while chasing 247 in the second match. The Afghanistan series proved even more dire, with Bangladesh failing to bat out their full 50 overs in any match and getting bowled out for 109 and 93 in the final two ODIs.
"Senior players must take responsibility. As a batting unit, we have to address the issue you mentioned, that we have not been able to bat out 50 overs. We failed to do that in Afghanistan, and we also struggled against Zimbabwe," Litton stated.
"Our options are quite limited because, most of the time, we play with only six specialist batters. If the lower order cannot contribute enough with the bat, the innings can stall, putting extra pressure on the top order," he added regarding the team's struggles while chasing big targets.
Litton himself has experienced a turbulent white-ball career, though his 2026 ODI numbers show 300 runs in nine innings at an average of 42.86. After entering the recent Test against Afghanistan carrying heavy baggage, he bounced back strongly with knocks of 53 and 102.
The squad features Tanzid Tamim and Soumya Sarkar as expected openers, with Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, and Litton in the middle order, while Mosaddek Hossain and Mehidy bolster the lower order. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe enters the tournament following a 3-0 series defeat to Australia, making this their first ODI appearance at the Abu Dhabi venue.