Litton Das

Bangladesh Appoint Litton Das as ODI Captain; Mehidy Hasan Miraz Relieved of Leadership Role

Latest Cricket News — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 18:05:25 +0000

Litton Das Named Bangladesh ODI Captain; BCB Explains Why Mehidy Hasan Miraz Was Replaced

Bangladesh Appoint Litton Das as ODI Captain

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has appointed Litton Das as the new ODI captain, replacing Mehidy Hasan Miraz in a move aimed at allowing the star all-rounder to focus entirely on his performances.

BCB president Tamim Iqbal confirmed the decision after a board meeting at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, stating that Bangladesh will now move forward with two captains across the three formats instead of having separate leaders for each format.

Under the new structure, Litton Das will lead Bangladesh in white-ball cricket, while Najmul Hossain Shanto will continue as captain of the Test side.

BCB Opts for Two-Captain Model

Explaining the decision, Tamim said the board believes having one captain for white-ball cricket and another for red-ball cricket will provide greater stability and better planning.

Along with Litton’s appointment, Towhid Hridoy has been named the white-ball vice-captain, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz will continue as the vice-captain in Test cricket.

Tamim also revealed that discussions were held with all players before finalising the leadership changes.

According to him, the transition was made with everyone’s knowledge and support.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Focus on His Cricket

Despite replacing Mehidy as ODI captain, Tamim made it clear that the all-rounder continues to be one of Bangladesh’s most valuable players.

He praised Mehidy’s leadership, pointing out that Bangladesh won four of the last five ODI series under his captaincy.

However, the board believes Mehidy can contribute even more if he concentrates solely on his batting and bowling.

Tamim admitted that while Mehidy’s batting has remained strong, the team wants to see him regain his best form with the ball.

The BCB also feels that the additional pressure of captaincy and outside criticism may have affected his overall performances.

Litton Das Returns to Leadership

Litton is no stranger to leading Bangladesh in ODIs.

The wicketkeeper-batter previously captained the side in seven One-Day Internationals, including Bangladesh’s memorable 2-1 series victory over India in 2022 when Tamim Iqbal was unavailable through injury.

He also led the team in matches against Afghanistan and New Zealand during 2023.

The BCB believes Litton’s experience makes him well-suited to lead Bangladesh’s white-ball teams going forward.

Performance Reviews Every Six Months

Tamim also announced a change in the board’s approach towards evaluating players and coaching staff.

Instead of reacting after every series, Bangladesh will now conduct performance reviews every six months.

The board has also asked the coaching staff and players to prepare a structured six-month roadmap following the recent Zimbabwe tour.

According to Tamim, the objective is to improve communication between the board and players while creating a more stable environment for long-term planning.

Mehidy’s ODI Captaincy Record

Mehidy Hasan Miraz captained Bangladesh in 20 ODI matches, winning 10.

His tenure began with a difficult run as Bangladesh lost five of their first six matches and two consecutive ODI series.

However, the team bounced back strongly, winning four successive home series against West Indies, Pakistan, New Zealand and Australia before suffering an away series defeat to Zimbabwe.

Although his captaincy has ended, Mehidy remains a key part of Bangladesh’s plans as one of the team’s leading all-rounders.

Nahid Rana Ruled Out of Australia Tests, Bangladesh Face Major Injury Blow

Latest Cricket News — Sat, 25 Jul 2026 19:28:38 +0000

Bangladesh Suffer Major Blow as Nahid Rana Ruled Out of Australia Test Series

Nahid Rana Ruled Out of Australia Tests, Bangladesh Face Major Injury Blow

Bangladesh have suffered a significant setback ahead of their upcoming Test tour of Australia, with fast bowler Nahid Rana ruled out of the entire two-match series due to injury.

A Bangladesh Cricket Board official confirmed that Rana will not travel to Australia as he continues his recovery from a Grade 2 left side strain.

The injury situation has created further concerns for Bangladesh, with Litton Das and Shoriful Islam also unlikely to be available for the opening Test in Darwin.

Nahid Rana Ruled Out of Australia Tour

Rana sustained the injury during the second T20I against Zimbabwe earlier this month.

There had initially been some hope that the fast bowler could recover in time for the Australia series. However, subsequent medical examinations confirmed the severity of the injury.

Scans revealed a Grade 2 side strain, with Bangladesh’s medical team estimating a recovery period of approximately six to eight weeks from the date of injury.

That timeline has effectively ruled Rana out of both Tests.

His absence could be particularly significant in Australian conditions, where his extra pace and ability to generate bounce could have provided Bangladesh with an important attacking option.

Litton Das Facing Fitness Test

Bangladesh are also sweating over the availability of experienced wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das.

Litton suffered a left calf injury and subsequently travelled to Singapore for specialist consultation.

He underwent platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment and is expected to begin a progressive running and conditioning programme from July 28.

His fitness assessment is scheduled for around August 13.

That makes his participation in the opening Test extremely unlikely, although he could potentially return for the second Test if he receives medical clearance.

The BCB has indicated that Litton’s availability will depend on him successfully passing the required fitness tests.

Shoriful Islam Also Likely to Miss First Test

Left-arm fast bowler Shoriful Islam is another player dealing with an injury suffered during the Zimbabwe series.

Shoriful sustained a Grade 1 left hamstring injury.

His rehabilitation appears to be progressing, with the pacer expected to resume bowling from July 29.

A fitness assessment is planned around August 12.

Given the timing, Shoriful is unlikely to be ready for Bangladesh’s first Test against Australia. However, he has a better chance of returning for the second match if he completes his bowling workload without any further problems and receives medical clearance.

Bangladesh’s Injury Problems Before Australia Tests

Bangladesh could therefore enter the opening Test without three important players.

Nahid Rana is confirmed to miss the entire series, while Litton Das and Shoriful Islam are both expected to miss at least the first Test.

The absence of Rana and potentially Shoriful would force Bangladesh to rethink the composition of their pace attack.

Litton’s possible absence would also create a major gap in the batting order because of his experience at Test level.

Australia vs Bangladesh Test Series Schedule

The two-match series forms part of the ICC World Test Championship.

The opening Test will be played in Darwin from August 13 to 17, before the teams travel to Mackay for the second and final Test.

The second Test is scheduled for August 22 to 26.

Bangladesh will now hope Litton and Shoriful make sufficient progress during rehabilitation to strengthen the squad for the latter stages of what promises to be a challenging Australian tour.