Liton Open to Test Captaincy, Says It’s an Honour No One Would Decline

Bangladesh batter Liton Das has said he would welcome the chance to lead the national Test side, calling the role one of the biggest honors in cricket. Speaking at a press conference in Chattogram on Saturday, ahead of the T20 series against West Indies, Liton confirmed that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has not yet approached him about the position but admitted it would be difficult for any player to turn it down. “I haven’t heard anything from the board yet,” Liton told reporters. “If they think I’m the right person, they’ll talk to me. Test captaincy is a big thing for any cricketer. I don’t think anyone would say no to that.” The Test captaincy has been vacant since Najmul Hossain Shanto stepped down following the Sri Lanka series in June. The BCB is expected to announce a new captain before the upcoming two-match Test series against Ireland, scheduled to begin early next month. Liton, 30, has already captained Bangladesh in all three formats, though he holds the permanent role only in T20Is. Under his leadership, Bangladesh have won four consecutive T20 series and came close to reaching the Asia Cup final earlier this year — a record that has strengthened his case for broader leadership responsibilities. He has also had a brief taste of Test captaincy. In 2023, he led Bangladesh against Afghanistan in Dhaka when Shakib Al Hasan was injured, guiding the team to a record 546-run victory. For now, Liton’s focus remains on the T20 format, where Bangladesh are building towards next year’s T20 World Cup. The team will play six matches — three each against West Indies and Ireland — before the tournament. Asked about his goals for these series, Liton said he wanted to see his players challenged under pressure. “I want the team to face tough situations — in batting and in bowling,” he said. “If we go through challenges in these matches, it will only help us later. The more pressure we handle now, the stronger we’ll become.” Bangladesh will face West Indies in the first T20I on Sunday at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, aiming to continue their strong run of form under Liton’s leadership.