Litton Sees Tri-Series as Preparation for World Cup and Asia Cup

Bangladesh’s newly appointed ODI captain Litton Das has outlined a long-term vision ahead of the upcoming tri-nation series in the United Arab Emirates. With the 2027 ODI World Cup and the upcoming Asia Cup on the horizon, he views the series as a crucial platform for building the team and making final preparations for these major tournaments.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of Bangladesh’s clash against Zimbabwe, Litton discussed his strategy, the team’s mindset and the overall condition of the pitches.

Asked about the message he wants to convey to the team as captain, Litton said, “Even if we prepare by keeping our past performances in mind, we cannot think that because we played poorly before, we will continue to do so. Our mindset must always remain positive, and we will try to play positively. Those of us who are senior players must take responsibility and perform as a batting unit. We failed to bat for the full 50 overs last time, and we also failed to do so in Zimbabwe. Our focus will be on ensuring that batters, especially those in the top order, take responsibility.”

Litton is fully confident in the capabilities and potential of the Bangladesh squad. He believes that with the right combination of experienced players and promising young cricketers, the team can overcome any opponent. Speaking about the squad, Litton said,

“Of course, this team has played some very good series. Our playing pattern, especially at home, was very good. There are many talented players in this squad, and if we senior players can perform to the best of our abilities, anything is possible.”

Although Litton has previous experience leading Bangladesh in the T20 format, taking charge of the ODI side is an entirely new responsibility for him. However, he does not consider the additional responsibility a source of extra pressure. Asked whether captaincy brings any additional pressure, Litton gave a brief response, saying, “No, there is no extra pressure.”

Regarding the pitches in the United Arab Emirates, Litton said, “No, I don’t think they will be much different. The reason for checking them was to see what kind of pitches would be used. I thought the matches would be played on the middle pitches. Hopefully, the wickets will be good and offer a balanced contest between bat and ball.”