Liton first among equals

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto said it was frustrating not to be able to play due to rain after Day 2 of the second Test against India in Kanpur was washed out.  

Bangladesh reached 107-3 on the previous day when only 35 overs were played before bad light and subsequent rain suspended proceedings. 

"It's very frustrating as a player. The match started after so many difficulties and was played for a while as well and then stopped. It is frustrating for players. There is nothing to do," Shanto told reporters on Saturday. 

Shanto was one of the three wickets that fell on Day 1. The left-handed batter, who registered one half-century in his previous 12 Test innings, scored 31 before he was trapped lbw by India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.  

"I think we lost an additional wicket.  We started well with the bat. Our position is still good. I wouldn't say it's too bad. We still have a lot of batters left. We can go towards a good position if we can have a couple of partnerships. At this point, I would say we are in the middle.    

"The wicket was good. The challenge here is that the play is being interrupted [due to rain]; it's an on-and-off thing. The batters have to bat with the concern that rain can become an obstacle at any time which is tough."

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto put forth the same old worn out excuses of 'not executing plans' and 'poor wickets at home' as reasons for the utter humiliation at the hands of India in the final T20I of the three-match series in Hyderabad yesterday, which ended in a crushing 133-run defeat.

As the margin of the defeat suggests, it was a total mismatch between the sides at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium with India doubling down on the dominance they had shown in the previous two T20Is with a victory that showed just how far ahead the reigning T20 world champions are compared to the Tigers.

India, who had rested several of their marquee names in the series, had already asserted their superiority over Bangladesh with wins by seven wickets and 86 runs in the first two T20Is, respectively.

But the hosts were only revving up their T20 engine which went into overdrive in the third T20I and steamrolled the Tigers, crushing them under the humungous total of 297-6.

Opener Sanju Samson put on an exhibition, both caressing and hammering the ball to the boundary in a scintillating 111 off 47 balls which featured 11 fours and eight sixes.

Captain Suryakumar Yadav (75 off 35), Hardik Pandya (47 off 18) and Riyan Parag (34 off 13) also treated the thousands of home fans at the stands with a plethora of boundaries while the Bangladesh bowlers looked on helplessly, out of ideas and devoid of any inspiration to stop the Indian barrage.

In reply, Towhid Hridoy remained not out on 63 off 42 balls and Liton Das made 42 off 25 balls but that did little to hide Bangladesh's blushes in the match.

"We didn't play our best cricket," skipper Shanto, looking totally defeated, said after the match.

"We didn't execute our plans as a batting unit. We bowled well for a couple of overs in some matches but today [Saturday] we didn't bowl well," he added.

Shanto, who about a month ago was beaming after leading Bangladesh to a historic 2-0 Test series sweep over Pakistan, is now seeing the other side of the coin, having lost the two-Test series against India 2-0 before the 3-0 drubbing in the T20Is.

Yesterday, Bangladesh did get an early breakthrough after they were sent to bowl first, with Tanzim Sakib getting opener Abhishek Sharma out for four in the second over.

But after that, Samson and Suryakumar went after the Bangladesh bowlers. They took a liking to the aerial route as they comfortably cleared the ropes on numerous occasions.

India hit a staggering 22 sixes in the innings, but when it was Bangladesh's turn to dish out some punishment, they could clear the ropes only four times, three of which came off the bat of Hridoy.

A lack of skills, poor planning and dearth of belief have been evident throughout the series in the Bangladesh camp. Shanto urged his players to acknowledge the shortcomings and take responsibility. "We need to believe in ourselves that we can compete against any team. We need to change our home wickets and the players need to take responsibilities."

In a bombshell press conference on Thursday, Bangladesh ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan said that he had informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) that the upcoming South Africa Test series at home in October-November will be the last Test series of his career.

Following the fall of the Awami League government, of which he was an MP, Shakib has not returned to the country. He feels that if he can head back to the country and leave on his own terms, he will play the series against South Africa, which is to be his last Test series.

It is not just Test cricket that Shakib is set to leave as he further informed that he will not be playing T20 format for the next few series as he feels it is time to move on from the format.

Asked if he would play the T20I series against India, starting on October 6, he informed that he feels he has already played his last T20I.

"I think I have played my last match at the World Cup [against Afghanistan]," he added. 

When asked if the Champions Trophy in 2025 would be his last foray in the ODI format, he simply said "I hope so. Nine more ODIs."

Bangladesh batter Liton Das said it was time for the right-handed batter to take responsibility for his game.  

The 29-year-old made his Bangladesh debut in 2015 and nine years into his international career, he still blows hot and cold and struggles to become a dependable batter for the Tigers across formats.  

"I've been playing [international] cricket for 9-10 years now. I've gained that much experience. Now is the time to take responsibility. If not now, then when will I take responsibility?" Liton told reporters on Tuesday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium where the Tigers trained ahead of their India tour, starting September 19.

Liton played a pivotal role in Bangladesh's historic Test series win in Pakistan with a match-winning 138-run knock in the second Test of the two-match series. From a disastrous plight that saw the visitors lose six wickets for just 26 on the board, Liton propelled his side to a stable position with a patient knock, notching up his fourth Test ton in the process. In the first Test, he scored a half-century and led a counterpunch against the Pakistan bowlers, helping Bangladesh to a take a lead.

Criticism has followed Liton throughout his career and it was not long ago that the merit of his selection was brought into question in the white-ball formats. Very few can forget the manner of his dismissal in a hattrick of failed scoops in a T20I against Zimbabwe at home in May or the rush of blood that saw him dance down the pitch and gift his wicket away while Bangladesh were trying to save a Test against Sri Lanka in March.

Liton has established himself amongst fans and perhaps even the management as a supremely talented batter who blows hot and cold but there is little doubt about his ability and the fine batsmanship he can dish out on his day. His stroke-making compounded with the ease with which he can execute his batting has always set him apart from the rest but the inconsistent application of all that promise is what has always disappointed his admirers.

His recklessness or a lack of responsibility in the white-ball formats has not, however, seeped into his performance in Tests. Since 2020, he has scored the second-most runs amongst designated wicket-keepers, amassing 1559 runs at an average of 48.71. Only Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan has scored more in that time frame.

When asked about his attacking stroke-playing ability, Liton said it was no different from how the rest of the world plays their cricket. With the India series up next, Liton will have to be at his best to tackle one of the best bowling units in the world.

"I don't play that much of attacking cricket. I try to score off the balls in the scoring zones. And you will see that run-scoring is very important in any format. There comes a flow in your batting when you play for a run each ball. 

"I think the way I bat is in sync with how everyone across the world plays; They play the game with an attacking mood. Naturally, there are more attacking field setups in Test cricket and the probability of getting out is higher, but at the same time, the scope to score is also greater," Liton said.

Bangladesh are set to play two Tests and three T20Is against India, starting with the first Test on September 19. 

The Tigers, who play with the Kookaburra ball, will face the challenge of playing with the SG ball in India. The SG ball has a more pronounced seam which helps spinner grip the ball better after it gets old. It also allows the pacers to use the seam better while trying to initiate swing with the old ball.

"The India series will be challenging for us. For preparation, we are facing our main bowlers [at the nets] as much as possible. 

"It will be difficult because with the Kookaburra ball, it is tough when the ball is new and it gets easier when the balls gets old. But with the SG ball, it is a bit easier when it's new and difficult when it's old," Liton said. 

For over two decades, Shakib Khan has been a leading figure in the Dhallywood film industry. Recently, he has ventured into the world of cricket through his business enterprise, Remark-Herlan, which has acquired a Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) franchise named Dhaka Capitals. 

Currently, Dhaka Capitals is planning to host matches featuring some of the nation's top showbiz personalities, per an announcement by actor Siam Ahmed, the brand ambassador for Remark-Herlan.  

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) inaugurated its latest tournament, the NCL T20, with a grand launch event on Saturday. Among the notable attendees was Siam Ahmed, representing Remark-Herlan, one of the tournament's sponsors. During a post-event interaction with the media, Siam hinted at the prospect of a match between popular showbiz celebrities and the Dhaka Capitals team.

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When asked about the possibility of a future match bringing together national cricket players and entertainment industry icons, Siam shared his vision, stating, "This is an idea I've been considering as well. I plan to propose it to the BCB. On a positive note, before this event, I spoke with Remark-Herlan, and they've already approved the initiative."  

He further elaborated, "With BCB's collaboration, we could create something truly remarkable. However, even without their involvement, we're committed to organising an exciting match between the Dhaka Capitals and celebrities associated with Remark-Herlan."

Addressing the significance of the event, Siam explained, "Recently, there seems to be some division within the showbiz community. Our aim is to foster unity in the entertainment industry. If cricket can serve as a platform to bridge that divide, it would be a wonderful opportunity. Since Dhaka Capitals is owned by Remark-Herlan, I proposed organising a match with this team to bring everyone together." 

When asked about the potential participants, Siam revealed, "All the celebrities linked to Remark-Herlan will take part in the event. Additionally, we plan to extend invitations to others, ensuring the entire entertainment industry feels included." 

Siam also highlighted the charitable purpose behind the event. "Bringing together talents from two diverse industries creates a unique opportunity to give back to those in need. I've discussed this idea with Remark-Herlan, and they are enthusiastic about supporting this cause," he said. 

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While the match is in the works, the date is yet to be decided. Siam mentioned that the event could take place before the BPL kicks off, during the season, or even after the tournament concludes. 

This season, Shakib Khan's Dhaka Capitals will feature a stellar lineup, including Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzid Hasan, Liton Das, Thisara Perera, Sabbir Rahman, and other prominent players from both local and international cricket. 

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In contrast, last year saw Generation Next host a cricket league exclusively featuring showbiz celebrities. However, the event came to an abrupt end following a heated altercation among participants during one of the matches.