Wicketkeeper-batter Liton Das has recently found his back against the wall, missing out on Bangladesh's Champions Trophy squad and securing a team in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League only at the last moment. Yet, the 30-year-old remains optimistic about his future. In a conversation with The Daily Star's Samsul Arefin Khan, he discussed his career, potential T20I captaincy, and more. Here are excerpts from the interview:

The Daily Star (DS): You've usually played for top teams in the Dhaka League, but this year you joined a relatively new side. How has that experience been?

Liton Das (LD): It was always a great feeling for me to be part of a side that either became champions or runners-up in the tournament. However, [this year] what I feel about my team is that it's a totally young side, but I'm enjoying playing with them.

DS: After what happened in the players' transfer, where you got a team at the very last moment, do you feel any disappointment?

LD: Disappointment? It's not like that. People don't always get what they demand. The way I was thinking, the clubs weren't thinking in the same way.

DS: Since the last Bangladesh Premier League, the payment issue of the players has become a burning question. The issue of players' non-payment was also there previously, but it didn't spark like what happened in the last couple of tournaments. Who do you think is responsible?

LD: I can't blame any individual for this. The scenario has changed entirely since the change in government. The situation was normally different. What happens in the cricket sector is that the cricketers play the sport, and they get money from it. But the payment is very, very low compared to previous years. If the same thing happens next year, it won't be good for Bangladesh cricket.

DS: Don't you see any liability of the players for this situation?

LD: If you see, the Bangladesh Premier League is organised by the BCB. They did the draft of the players and fixed the payment amount of the players. Only in the DPL can the players bargain about their prices. But ultimately, what's happening -- like for me, who is playing for the national team or close to the national team circuit -- I can survive by playing in one format or another as the BCB is giving me an amount every month. But there are many cricketers in Bangladesh. They almost wait for the Dhaka League every year. In the BPL, not every player of Bangladesh plays there.

DPL is the only tournament where 12 teams participate, and at least 15 players play in each team. So the number is huge. It becomes difficult for those players when the payment amount drops to a big scale in those leagues. If they get a good amount of payment from here, I feel that their interest will grow, and they will show more dedication to cricket.

DS: With Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad retiring recently, do you feel it's now your responsibility to lead the team forward?

LD: The role of a cricketer who makes his debut or has been playing for ten years is kind of the same. Cricket is a game where senior or junior doesn't matter much. It's important how one performs on a particular day.

If you see the last few T20 World Cups, most of the players were young, and there were only a few senior cricketers. In Tests, only Mushfiq bhai plays in the format, and he will be playing in the coming days as well, as he is yet to retire from Tests. In ODIs, only Mushfiq bhai and Riyad bhai were playing. Obviously, we will miss the involvement and experience of the seniors. But the majority of the players in the side also have experience playing for a good amount of time for Bangladesh -- like us, who have been playing for seven to ten years, or others who have been playing for two to three years. I don't think it will be a big problem.

In the last West Indies series, we played without any senior player, and we have been without any senior player for many series in recent times as well. It's true they had to leave the game one day, and I respect their decisions.

DS: Bangladesh often enter ICC events without proper preparation. Do you think the team prepares well enough?

LD: I think preparation is totally an individual matter. Many players take only two days to complete their preparation, while some may need a week. It ultimately varies from player to player. Obviously, when you switch from one format to another, if you play one or two games beforehand, then you get a good idea. But it's not like if he doesn't play, the preparation is bad. You can habituate yourself to the situation quickly once you play a few matches before going into the same format tournament.

DS: You are now in your 30s and have been part of the Bangladesh squad for almost a decade. Are you happy with your career so far?

LD: My career doesn't reflect what I wanted to do for myself and the country. I still think I have a lot to do, a lot to give, as well as a lot to achieve.

DS: There's talk of you taking over the T20 captaincy after Shanto stepped down. Are you interested?

LD: I enjoy doing captaincy a lot. I always try to help my teammates as per my experience in playing international cricket on the field. It's not like I only share my experience when I am a captain. When I play as a non-captain, I try to share my ideas with them.

If the BCB feels that I'm a rightful candidate for the job, I will never have a doubt about taking it.

DS: You have been picked by Karachi Kings for the PSL. Have you applied for the NOC?

LD: I'm yet to apply for the NOC. But hopefully, I will apply in the next one or two days.

DS: Do you think the cricket board should be more liberal in issuing NOCs to their players for foreign leagues?

LD: Of course, it would be good. But these things depend on the situation… on the importance of a player for a particular series. I think the board knows it better, and they will take the final call.