Panic starts at the top

Bangladesh batter Liton Das backed his style of batsmanship and said he hoped he would come out of his batting rut after he made the headlines for being dismissed in an appalling fashion in the third T20I of the five-match series against Zimbabwe at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram yesterday. 

Liton prolonged his abysmal run in white-ball cricket as he managed to score a 15-ball 12 before shooting himself in the foot by dragging one onto the stumps on his third straight scoop attempt against Blessing Muzarabani in only the fourth over of the innings. 

"I am trying to play the way I like to play T20 games. Hopefully, my bat will smile," Liton told T Sports after the match yesterday.

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The right-handed batter, often nonchalant in explaining his batting woes, did try to shrug off the pressure building around him, saying that he was not worried about his dismal run and that it is merely ''a part of the game''.

"I thought that it was the best idea [to attempt three successive scoop shots] at that time. This is why I tried it. It could've gone past the stumps for a boundary. It's a part of cricket and batters will have to face it. There will be times when you will get out playing a good shot and you might score playing bad ones," he said. 

The 29-year-old, who made his international debut in 2015, is perhaps right to feel no pressure as his spot in the World Cup squad seems to be guaranteed as per the thoughts of the team management who feel that the opener is one game away from regaining some sort of form going into the major event. 

"I am trying but it's not happening. It's not that I am not practising, I am working hard but it's cricket and it can happen. I am not worried about it. Of course, I should be doing well and have two matches to go. Let's see," Liton told T Sports. 

"People always expect results. When you deliver results and then not practise for five days then it's fine but if you fail then it's bad. I'm not really worried about that. The important thing is what I can give to myself in practice and in games."

Liton has managed to score 36 runs in the three matches he has played for far in the series and failed to provide a decent start for his side. He placed his blame on the wicket, asserting that the type of surface will determine the kind of start a team can get.  

"When the wicket will be very good, you will see 60 runs [in the Powerplay]. We are not the only ones struggling; The Zimbabwe team is also struggling. If you look at the last three games, you will see that playing against the new ball was challenging not only for me but for everyone. When everyone is facing problems with something it means that it's something difficult," he said.

"Have Bangladesh never played well against good opponents? Have they not had good starts against them? It is the type of surface you are playing on, how it behaves, and the quality of the opponent bowlers. Run-scoring depends on these factors. If you are facing a very good side then you can score runs if the surface permits," he added. 

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. 

Rubel Hossain is known for blowing hot and cold in a career spanning over a decade. Prone to err in the death overs, the right-arm pacer with a slinging action perhaps bowled his best ten overs in the one-day international against India in the Asia Cup final on Friday. His figures of 10-2-26-2 was a demonstration of how well he bowled in Dubai. He had Ravindra Jadeja caught in the 48th over, which was his last over, to create that window for a late twist in a pulsating final that Bangladesh lost off the last ball of the game.