Bangladesh have been dealt a significant setback ahead of their upcoming one-off Test against Zimbabwe after star wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das was ruled out. The experienced batter, who has been sidelined during the ODI series against Australia, will not recover in time for the red-ball fixture in Harare.
Why Litton Das will miss the one-off Test?
Litton’s absence comes after he sustained a left calf strain during the ODI leg against Australia in Dhaka. The injury had already forced him to sit out the recently concluded three-match T20I series in Chattogram, and further medical assessments confirmed that he would not be fit enough to participate in the Test match scheduled to begin on June 28.
According to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), their medical staff concluded that the recovery window available before the Zimbabwe Test was too short for Litton to regain full match fitness. Rather than rushing one of the team’s most important batters back into action, the selectors opted to leave him out and focus on his rehabilitation.
The timing is unfortunate for Bangladesh, as Litton has been a key figure in the side across formats. His experience behind the stumps and ability to anchor the batting order would have been valuable in overseas conditions.
The multi-format tour starts with the one-off Test at Harare Sports Club before shifting into a three-match ODI series on July 6, 9 and 11 at the same venue. The action will later move to Bulawayo for three T20Is on July 15, 17 and 19. Litton, along with fast bowler Taskin Ahmed, is also expected to miss the T20I leg because of commitments in the Lanka Premier League.
Replacement announced for Litton
With Litton unavailable, the Bangladesh National Selection Panel has handed a call-up to 27-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Mahidul Islam Bhuiyan. The move gives Mahidul an opportunity to establish himself in the national setup as Bangladesh look to maintain balance in both their batting and wicketkeeping departments. His inclusion ensures the touring party has a like-for-like replacement capable of performing dual responsibilities.
Bangladesh have already begun their preparations for the Zimbabwe tour, with the first group of Test players departing on Sunday. The members who recently featured in the white-ball series against Australia are expected to link up with the squad shortly.
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Phil Simmons stresses commitment to Bangladesh’s Test identity
While the injury to Litton has altered Bangladesh’s plans, head coach Phil Simmons has made it clear that the team’s broader focus remains unchanged. Speaking ahead of the tour, Simmons said he is more interested in the style and standard of cricket his side produces than the final result.
The coach pointed to Bangladesh’s recent performances against Pakistan as evidence of the brand of Test cricket the team wants to embrace and insisted that approach would continue against Zimbabwe regardless of the opposition.
Simmons also described the Harare Test as useful preparation for the challenging tour of Australia later this year but cautioned that the team still has considerable work ahead before facing a much tougher assignment. For now, Bangladesh’s attention is firmly fixed on putting together a disciplined performance in Zimbabwe despite the absence of one of their senior stars.
“These days, I don’t worry about those things. The thing is that we’ve started playing cricket in a way that we want to play it, especially in Test cricket. The last two matches against Pakistan showed how we want to play Test cricket. That’s the way we’re going to go to Zimbabwe and try to play. It’s good preparation for the Australia Test series. But there’s work to be done when the Test boys come back. We have time before we go to Australia. There’s more work to be done before we go there. Australia is a different proposition from Zimbabwe. Right now, though, we’re concentrating on the Zimbabwe Test match,” said Simmons in a statement.
