Dhaka, January 12, 2025: In a significant shake-up, Bangladesh have excluded two of their biggest cricketing names, Litton Das and Shakib Al Hasan, from the squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy.
The decision to drop Litton Das comes after an extended period of poor form. The wicketkeeper-batter has failed to score a half-century in his last 13 ODI innings, dating back to the 2023 ODI World Cup. In his last seven outings, he has been dismissed for single-digit scores on six occasions.
Chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain addressed Litton’s exclusion, stating:
“Litton is out of form and struggling to adapt to white-ball cricket. Opposition analysts have identified his weaknesses, and he hasn’t been able to deliver in key moments. Despite giving him ample chances, we’ve lost confidence in his ability to anchor the top order.”
Ashraf hinted that Litton’s path back to the team would require him to work on his form with the guidance of experts. For now, Soumya Sarkar and Tanzid Hasan Tamim are likely to take over the opening duties.
As expected, Shakib Al Hasan has also been left out. The allrounder, currently barred from bowling due to an illegal action, failed a second independent assessment of his action, ruling him out of top-flight cricket. This omission could signal the end of Shakib’s illustrious ODI career.
Apart from Litton and Shakib, Afif Hossain, Shoriful Islam, and Hasan Mahmud have also been excluded from the squad.
Meanwhile, Najmul Hossain Shanto returns as captain after missing the West Indies tour due to a hamstring injury. Key players like Mushfiqur Rahim, Towhid Hridoy, and Mustafizur Rahman have also made a comeback, bolstering the squad for the challenging tournament.
Bangladesh will face stiff competition in the Champions Trophy, with matches set to take place on batting-friendly wickets in Rawalpindi. Reflecting on the challenge, Ashraf noted, “We must prioritize in-form players who can adapt to high-scoring conditions. Recent performances were key in shaping our selection decisions.”
Bangladesh Squad
Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Towhid Hridoy, Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan, Nahid Rana.
