Stand-in Bangladesh captain Litton Das expressed his desire for Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah Riayd to relish their cricket in the upcoming home series against New Zealand, commencing on Thursday in Dhaka.
Litton was appointed as the captain of this series after Shakib Al Hasan was unavailable. Shakib has led Bangladesh in the recently concluded Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Both Tamim and Mahmudullah had been absent from the lineup for different reasons. Tamim grappled with injuries, while Mahmudullah faced an extended period of subpar form.
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However, the Bangladesh team management's decision to recall them for the New Zealand series indicates a belief in their potential contribution to the World Cup campaign, provided they meet expectations.
The Bangladesh captain emphasized that he won't burden them with undue pressure. Instead, he hopes they find joy in their game.
"Having two seasoned players in the team is a tremendous asset," Litton remarked. "They return after a significant hiatus. I don't want to weigh them down with unnecessary expectations. I want them to relish their cricket. Their enjoyment will enhance our prospects of performing well."
Along with Tamim and Mahmudullah, Soumya Sarkar has also made a comeback to the ODI squad. While Tamim's role as an opener is confirmed, the positions of Mahmudullah and Soumya in the playing XI remain uncertain.
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The Bangladesh captain clarified that they are not assigning specific roles to anyone. The team will determine players’ roles based on match conditions and circumstances on any given day.
Litton himself has faced a recent struggle. Over his last nine ODI innings, he has only managed to score a half-century. Despite opportunities in the Asia Cup, the right-handed batter fell short.
"I've been diligently seeking a way out of this," Litton shared his determination to perform well. "I am completely confident and I'm putting in the effort to excel. Let's see what I can achieve in this series."