Bangladesh chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain said on Monday that they are concerned with the form of Litton Kumar Das in white-ball cricket and insisted a break can be arranged if needed. Litton, who scored 2, 4 and 0 respectively in the three ODIs, could not open his account in the opening T20I against West Indies that the visitors won by seven runs.
"We also understand that the team has high expectations from Litton, given his quality as a batter. However, he hasn't been as consistent in white-ball cricket. That's why we kept him out of the playing XI in a decisive match of a tournament," Ashraf told reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Monday.
"Currently, he is our T20 captain, and a series is ongoing. I think it's not the ideal time to delve deeply into these matters. But I can say that we are definitely concerned about the way he is getting out. If his batting needs any adjustments in the future, the coaches are there to help, or if he needs a break, that can be arranged. Alternatively, he might make a comeback in the next two matches," he said.
Ashraf also insisted that he is not aware how an out of form Litton was picked for captaincy in the absence of regular skipper Najmul Hossain, who is ruled out of the series due to injury.
"The selection of the national team falls under our jurisdiction, but deciding who will captain the team is the board's prerogative. Whether it's a short-term or long-term decision, the board determines this based on the situation. That's what happened this time as well. After I joined, I was asked to recommend captains and vice-captains only for the 'A' team and the High-Performance team, not for the national team," said Ashraf.
"As the chief of the selection panel under the board, I am speaking from my position, which comes with job responsibilities and ethics. Beyond that, I can't comment further at this moment. The board probably made a decision based on some short-term calculations. It's not like the board had many other options either, as several players were injured," he added.
Ashraf also seemed at dark regarding the futures of Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan as far as their participation in the Champions Trophy is concerned. Apart from having political issues that barred Shakib from entering the country, the veteran all-rounder came under the spotlight for a suspected bowling action that has forced him to get a clearance again in order to bowl in international cricket and in other domestic competitions.
Tamim on the other hand had began his preparation for the upcoming BPL with the ongoing NCL T20 and already hit two half centuries to prove that he still has something to offer despite playing cricket after a gap of seven months.
"I don't have direct answers to certain questions. Regarding Shakib Al Hasan's issue, you are all already aware of it. I cannot provide any clear statements on that matter," said Ashraf. "The communication process with Shakib is through Cricket Operations. As for Tamim Iqbal, he has resumed playing, which is a ray of hope. I believe we'll know very soon whether he will be available or not. If he is, that's wonderful.
"This is a completely different issue compared to Shakib's. In Tamim's case, if someone withdraws themselves, as you know, there was a previous board with differing opinions and several issues. However, under this board, a positive aspect is that Tamim is returning to the field and preparing himself for a major tournament. We are in a position to discuss things with him.
"The board and the selectors will sit together to find a solution. Tamim needs to improve his fitness further. When a player has been playing for so long, they know how to refine and prepare themselves for the global stage. Whatever help he needs, the board will provide. This shouldn't be an issue," he added.