The Bangladesh national cricket team has made a strategic change ahead of its upcoming ODI series against the Pakistan national cricket team, with senior assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin confirming that Litton Das will bat in the middle order instead of his usual opening role. The decision reflects the team management’s belief that team balance must take priority over individual preferences.
Bangladesh are preparing for a three-match ODI series against Pakistan, scheduled to take place at the iconic Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on March 11, 13, and 15. The series marks Litton’s return to the ODI setup after a period away from the format.
Team Balance Over Individual Roles
Speaking ahead of the series, Mohammad Salahuddin made it clear that the decision to shift Litton down the order was taken purely with the team’s needs in mind.
According to the coach, Bangladesh currently require an experienced batter in the middle order after the retirement of senior campaigners like Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah from the format. Their absence has left a significant gap in the lineup, and the team management believes Litton has the skill and temperament to fill that role.
Salahuddin emphasized that while Litton has enjoyed most of his ODI success as an opener, his ability and experience make him capable of adapting to different positions in the batting order.
A New Role for Litton Das
Litton Das has traditionally been a top-order batter in ODIs, and all five of his centuries in the format have come while opening the innings. However, Bangladesh are now looking at him as a stabilizing presence in the middle order, a role that often demands composure, adaptability, and the ability to guide the innings.
The change was evident during Bangladesh’s preparation matches, where Litton batted at number five in a practice game against BCL All Stars XI. This move appears to signal the role he will likely play during the Pakistan series.
Team management believes his experience and technique can help anchor the innings during crucial phases of the game.
Strong Middle-Order Experience in Tests
Salahuddin also pointed out that Litton has significant experience batting in the middle order in Test cricket. In the longer format, the wicketkeeper-batter has frequently batted at number five or six, delivering several important innings for Bangladesh.
This experience has convinced the coaching staff that he has the necessary temperament to handle the responsibilities of a middle-order role in ODIs as well.
The coach highlighted that adapting to different batting positions is part of modern cricket, especially when the team’s balance requires it.
A Chance to Revive His ODI Form
Litton’s return to the ODI side comes after a period of inconsistent performances in the format. Since July last year, he had largely been out of Bangladesh’s ODI plans and played only three List-A matches during the recent Bangladesh Cricket League one-day tournament, scoring 10, 55, and 0.
Despite his struggles in ODIs, Litton remained active in T20 cricket during that period. Over 30 recognized T20 matches, he scored 696 runs at an average of 25.77 with a strike rate above 130, including five half-centuries.
The Bangladesh team management hopes that a new role in the batting order could help him rediscover his rhythm in the 50-over format.
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Proven Ability in Different Situations
Salahuddin also recalled Litton’s impressive performance during the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup. In one memorable match against the West Indies national cricket team, Litton scored a brilliant 90-plus innings while batting at number six, demonstrating his ability to adapt to different roles within the team.
That innings remains one of the key examples cited by the Bangladesh management when explaining their confidence in his ability to succeed in the middle order.
Pakistan Arrive for ODI Series
Meanwhile, the Pakistan team has already arrived in Dhaka for the much-anticipated series. A 15-member squad will compete in the three ODIs, which will serve as an important preparation opportunity for both teams ahead of upcoming international tournaments.
Matches at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium are expected to attract strong fan interest, as Bangladesh and Pakistan share a competitive history in limited-overs cricket.
For Bangladesh, the series will also provide an opportunity to test new combinations and rebuild the middle order following recent retirements.