Stand-in captain Jaker Ali Anik has revealed that Bangladesh waited until the very last moment for regular captain Litton Das ahead of their Super Four match against India. Litton had sustained an injury during practice last Monday, and while the team did not initially issue any serious update, signs of his fitness concerns became clear during the pre-match warm-up. About two hours before the India clash, it was confirmed that Litton would not be playing, and Jaker stepped in as captain.
On Wednesday, Bangladesh lost to India by 41 runs, leaving Thursday’s match against Pakistan (25 September) as a de facto semi-final. Victory is essential for both teams to reach the final, heightening the stakes considerably.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Jaker said: “We waited until the very end for Litton, but it didn’t work out. The decision from the authorities was that if, for any reason, he could not play, I would lead the side. It may not have been communicated in the media, but I was prepared.”
Whether Litton, who missed the India match, will be available against Pakistan remains uncertain. Jaker added: “We will see if he can play. He is currently in recovery, and we will wait and assess his condition.”
Team sources indicate that Litton’s back strain reduces his likelihood of playing. However, given the do-or-die nature of the match, the team may take a calculated risk and field him if he is fit enough.
While chasing India’s 169, Bangladesh’s batting struggled. Only Saif Hassan delivered a notable performance, scoring 69 off 51 balls, including five sixes. Parvez Hossain Emon managed 21 off 19 deliveries, but the rest of the line-up failed, and Bangladesh were bowled out for 127. Jaker acknowledged that the team’s batting failure, compounded by Litton’s absence, was a key factor in their loss.
