Captain Liton up for Afghan challenge

According to reports in the media, Liton Das was skeptical about leading Bangladesh in Tests as he was said to be willing to only focus on his role as a batter.

But as he walked into the press conference room at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Monday, Liton, set to be the 12th Test skipper of the nation on Wednesday during the one-off Test against Afghanistan in Mirpur, the 28-year-old seemed poised and ready for the challenge.

"Nothing of sorts was there," Liton, however, brushed aside the speculations about his reluctance in assuming the leadership role.

"As the vice captain of a side, at times I had to act as the captain and lead the side for two or three overs when [Test skipper] Shakib [Al Hasan] was off the field. So, I was never worried about being the captain," a confident Liton asserted.

Liton mentioned he is yet to feel the excitement that usually a cricketer feels when captaining a side.

"Let's see, if I get such a feeling [of excitement] when I walk out for the toss," Liton said. "Obviously, there is a good feeling about being a captain. In fact, being a Test cricketer is a matter of pride itself as everyone emphasises Test cricket. So, to lead the nation in this format is obviously a big thing."

For Liton, the Afghanistan Test is set to be an uphill task, especially given how the Tigers were hammered in the only Test ever played between the sides in 2019 in Chattogram. That time, preparing a rank turner against a spin-heavy Afghans had backfired in the form of a 224-run thumping.

Things are not going to be the same this time around.

"Usually we play on spinning wickets in Mirpur. But this time the challenge would be how we will do better on a green surface. How we can stick around and play big innings – that will be the challenge for us," Liton said.

In absence of star allrounder Shakib Al Hasan, who will be missing the Test due to a finger injury, and with Tamim Iqbal uncertain due to back issues, Liton said senior campaigner Mushfiqur Rahim will have a major role to play in giving solidity at the top.

The last time that Bangladesh faced Afghanistan, it was the star legspinner Rashid Khan who had scalped 11 wickets and turned the destroyer in chief. But the absence of Rashid for the only Test won't see any difference in approach from the Tigers, Liton mentioned.

"We will be taking Afghanistan just as seriously as we would have taken them if Rashid [Khan] was around," he added.