Bangladesh captain Litton Das believes his team are in strong shape ahead of the T20 series against the Netherlands, describing the recent month-long training camp as one of the best preparations the side has enjoyed in recent years.
Speaking in Sylhet on Thursday, Litton highlighted the importance of fitness and the new ideas brought in by power-hitting coach Julian Wood, though he cautioned that changes will not come overnight.
“Fitness is huge in modern cricket. We worked hard on that and then on skills. Preparation has been very good. You rarely get such facilities for so long,” said the skipper. “You cannot change everything in two or three days, but the new coach has given us fresh ideas. If we keep working, maybe in the near future you will see results.”
The Netherlands series is Bangladesh’s final assignment before the Asia Cup in the UAE. Asked about using the matches to experiment, Litton was clear that the focus would remain on winning. “Every international game is a challenge. If we get a chance to check a few players, we will. But at the same time, you play to win,” he said.
With high-scoring games expected in Sylhet, Litton welcomed the chance to build habits for the Asia Cup. “Abu Dhabi will be batting-friendly, like Sylhet. Scoring 200 to 250 is also about building a habit. If we can, great. If not, we will still try to be consistent.”
On the potential risk of losing to the Dutch, he dismissed talk of an upset being damaging. “In international cricket there is no small team. Bangladesh have lost to different teams before, nothing new. If we lose, we lose. Two teams play, one wins and one loses. What matters is how well we play.”
Litton also spoke about individual players. He confirmed that Parvez Hossain Emon’s fitness status is still unclear after an injury in training, while Soumya Sarkar remains in the back-up options. On the return of Nurul Hasan Sohan and Saif Hassan, he was upbeat. “I am very happy they are in. Sohan has been consistent for years. Saif’s aggressive mindset is what we needed in the middle order, and he can bowl a bit too. It is not like they will be dropped after one or two matches,” he said.
Asked about his own form, the captain was brief but determined. “I will try to play good cricket and give my hundred percent.”
Bangladesh face the Netherlands in the first of two T20 internationals in Sylhet on Friday.