Litton Das fights selectors over shocking axing as controversy erupts in Bangladesh Cricket
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Bangladesh T20I Captain Litton Das has now entered into a major fiasco with the Bangladesh Cricket Board over a player's sudden snub from the team. While the captain demands some clarity for himself and coach Phil Simmons, the chief selector has his own ways to make this work.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has been facing serious troubles lately, as just a few weeks back, one of their senior women cricketers had alleged that senior members of the board had sexually harassed her, and now the Men's T20I captain has brought forward some ugly truth.
Current Bangladesh T20I skipper Litton Das has revealed that the Selection committee is snubbing players from the team without any knowledge of the captain and the team coach. He has also shared that he has minimal say in Team selections.
Litton Das gets baffled by the sudden snub of Shamim Hossain
Litton Das has expressed dissatisfaction recently over the Bangladesh selectors for having dropped Shamim Hossain from the squad for the first two T20Is against Ireland. Chief Selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain had announced his replacement in the form of Mahidul Islam Ankon in the middle order.
"I think it would have been better if [Shamim] was in the team. But this is not my call, [it is] totally the selectors' call," Litton said, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
"I don't know why, but the selector dropped Shamim without giving us notice. I have known that a captain would know which player would be in the team, and which player would be out of the team. I don't see any reason behind Shamim getting dropped. It would have been better if he were in the team," he added, claiming neither he nor coach Phil Simmons was informed of the decision.
"We have been trying to build a team for a long time. Why not, Shamim? He performed extraordinarily in some of the series. Getting dropped from there is disappointing for Shamim," opined Das. "As a captain, I can't say anything more than sorry to Shamim. I don't expect all 15 players in my squad to perform at the same level. I am really sorry that I couldn't back him."
Litton Das opens up on the directive to have minimal say over Team selections
The Bangladesh captain further revealed that the selection panel and board told him that he would have very little say in squad selections, despite being the skipper of the national side and having led them successfully in the recent past.
"The selection panel and board have told me that I have to totally work with whatever team they have selected," Litton said. "I can't have a say about which player I want or don't want. I have known for a long time that a captain has a plan for organizing the team. Recently, I have been informed that my job is to deliver something good from the field with [the] team that I have been given."
He, however, said that he would still be leading the Bangladesh team, despite such conditions laid over his leadership.
"I won't say it is insulting, but I think the captain and coach must be informed. We don't know anything about [the selection]. If the same thing happens during the World Cup, I will try to implement with the team to the best of my ability," he concluded.
BCB Chief Selectors reply to Litton over the non-selection of Shamim Hossain
Shamim Hossain, the player who has been dropped from the T20I team against Ireland, has had only one double-digit score in the last few T20I innings, which might have initiated his snub.
"We held a brief meeting with the captain and coach before the Bangladesh squad for the Ireland T20Is was announced. When we asked about his opinion on Shamim Hossain, Litton Das told us that he wants Shamim in the team against Ireland. He also informed us that he spoke to the coach [Simmons], who said he also wants the same batters who played against the West Indies in the next T20I squad," revealed the BCB Chief Selector.
"After discussing with Hasibul Hossain [another selector], we decided to leave out Shamim from the squad. We thought that we would announce the squad for the first two matches so that if we win the series by then, we can do some experimentation in the third T20I."
"The selectors don't always have to agree with the captain and coach when making selection calls. We don't have to take any permission. We are accountable to the board," said Gazi, referring to what Litton Das said during his press meet.
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Bangladesh National Cricket Team Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Litton Das Shamim Hossain Phil Simmons Gazi Ashraf Hossain
